Research: How vitamin D deficiency is associated with severe coronavirus disease

Vitamin D is commonly known for its beneficial role in bone health, while its low levels have also been linked to various other autoimmune, cardiovascular and infectious diseases. Since the beginning of the pandemic, several doctors have encouraged people to take vitamin D to boost their immune system against coronavirus. A new Israeli scientific study shows that vitamin D deficiency before infection with the virus increases the likelihood of severe Covid-19, hospitalization and death.

Researchers at Bar-Ilan University School of Medicine, led by Dr. Amiel Dror, who published the paper in the scientific journal PLoS One, analyzed data on 1.176 patients who were hospitalized in 2020 and 2021 at Galilee Medical Center.

It was found that those who were deficient in vitamin D (less than 20 ng / mL) prior to infection with coronavirus, which was diagnosed by a positive PCR test, were on average 14 times more likely to become seriously ill or in critical condition. compared with those who had vitamin D levels above 40 ng / mL prior to infection. Also the probability of death among patients with a previous deficiency of this vitamin was almost 26%, compared to only 2,3% among those who had adequate levels of D before.

"Our findings show that it is good to maintain normal levels of vitamin D. This is especially true for those infected with the coronavirus," Dror said. Professor Michael Edelstein added: "The study contributes to the growing evidence that a history of vitamin D deficiency is a prognostic risk factor associated with a worse clinical outcome. Covid-19 and with increased mortality. It is still unclear why some people suffer from severe consequences of the infection Covid-19, while others do not. "Our findings highlight an aspect of solving this riddle."

Source: ΑΠΕ- ΜΠΕ