Vitamin D is one of the vitamins that has been touted as being able to reduce the risk of being infected with COVID-19. One of the reasons is that vitamin D has an important role in the body's immune system. There are no drugs that can cure COVID-19 until now, so many people take preventive steps such as taking vitamin D supplements. However, is it true that taking vitamin D can reduce the risk of getting COVID-19?
The main preventive measures for the transmission of the COVID-19 virus are physical and social distancing and maintaining personal hygiene by washing hands with soap regularly. Even so, several studies show that people who have adequate levels of vitamin D in the body can help strengthen the immune system and in general can protect the body from respiratory system diseases.
How Does Vitamin D Strengthen the Immune System?
Vitamin D has an anti-inflammatory role as well as immune system regulation which is important to activate the body's immune system defenses. Vitamin D is also known to improve the function of immune cells, such as T cells and macrophages, which are in charge of protecting the body from invading pathogens. Thus, vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased infections, disease, and immune system disorders. Some examples include respiratory system diseases, such as tuberculosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Can Vitamin D Protect the Body from COVID-19?
In a study conducted by Maghbooli, et al. and published in the journal PLoS ONE, it was found that 1 in 2 COVID-19 patients over the age of 40 who had sufficient vitamin D in the body experienced milder COVID-19 symptoms compared to patients who did not have adequate levels of vitamin D in the body. It shows that vitamin D deficiency can increase the risk of complications when exposed to COVID-19.
Vitamin D deficiency can trigger a process known as a "cytokine storm". Cytokines are part of the immune system that have both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory properties. Cytokine storm occurs when the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines is not controlled. Irregular and excessive release of cytokines can cause tissue damage and increase the progression and severity of diseases, including COVID-19.
How Much Vitamin D Do We Need Daily?
Based on the Nutritional Adequacy Rate, the need for vitamin D varies between 10-20 mcg per day with the following details:
- Children 0-11 months: 10 mcg
- 1-64 years old: 15 mcg
- 65 years old: 20 mcg
So, it can be concluded that protecting yourself from vitamin D deficiency by meeting daily vitamin D needs, can help boost the immune system and prevent the possibility of getting infections in the respiratory system. Even so, the evidence that taking vitamin D can prevent us from getting COVID-19 is still limited. So far, what has been proven is that sufficient vitamin D consumption can avoid the possibility of worsening when experiencing COVID-19.
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Sources:
Biesalski H. K. (2020). Vitamin D deficiency and co-morbidities in COVID-19 patients – A fatal relationship? NFS Journal, 20, 10–21.
Maghbooli Z, Sahraian MA, Ebrahimi M, et al. (2020) Vitamin D sufficiency, a serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D at least 30 ng/mL reduced risk for adverse clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19 infection. PLoS ONE 15(9): e0239799.
Ye, Q., Wang, B., & Mao, J. (2020). The pathogenesis and treatment of the `Cytokine Storm' in COVID-19. The Journal of infection, 80(6), 607–613.