Does Vitamin D Reduce The Risk of COVID-19?
A few days ago I was watching the daily briefing on COVID-19 and the experts were saying they couldn’t explain why certain ethnic groups had a greater risk of hospitalization and death. It immediately struck me that it must be related to vitamin D deficiency, which is more prevalent in people with naturally darker skin who absorb less sunlight.
As I searched the internet for confirmation of my assumption, I was surprised and pleased to find this article https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32252338 by the National Institute of Health that was published just a few days ago. The article reviews the “roles of vitamin D in reducing the risk of respiratory tract infections, knowledge about the epidemiology of influenza and COVID-19, and how vitamin D supplementation might be a useful measure to reduce risk.”
We are being warned to stay inside when we might be better advised to get outside and get some mid-day sun. Try to find time to get moderate sun exposure. Have lunch outdoors on the patio or take a picnic to the park. Just exposing a good portion of bare skin for 15 to 30 minutes of mid-day sun can help improve your level of Vitamin D.
NOTE: **You want to start gradually so that you don’t burn**
I would also suggest that if you can’t get enough sun exposure, to start taking supplemental Vitamin D. According to the article, to reduce the risk of infection,”it is recommended that people at risk of influenza and/or COVID-19 consider taking 10,000 IU/d of vitamin D3 for a few weeks to rapidly raise 25(OH)D concentrations, followed by 5000 IU/d.”
There is still so much that we don’t know about COVID-19, and I am sure as this epidemic rages on, we will be given more and more information as to what we can do to protect ourselves from the effects of the disease. I am certain in time, more will be published about its relationship to vitamin D and the importance of being sufficient in the supplement. As for now, I am doing all I can to supplement with vitamin D to be on the safe side! Plus, it’s just plain good for your health, regardless!