The role of vitamin D in the prevention of coronavirus disease 2019 infection and mortality

FAB RESEARCH COMMENT:

This research group has already made available a free report on Vitamin D and Immunity, documenting the very low levels of Vitamin D in the Irish population, particularly in older adults, who are by far the most vulnerable to severe forms of both influenza and COVID-19.

Studies have long shown that Vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency is extremely common in the UK - particularly in many of the population sub-groups who appear to be most vulnerable to COVID-19 - including not just older adults, but also people with obesity, learning disabilities and/or darker skin.

Very few foods contain Vitamin D, so adequate levels can only be achieved via sufficient exposure to bright sunlight on the skin (and in the UK, none can be made this way during the winter months), or by supplementation. 

There is therefore already a good case for public health authorities to do more to ensure adequate Vitamin D status purely for general health.

However, more research will be needed to find out whether this may also offer significant protection against severe illness or death following infection by COVID-19, as the authors of this article emphasise.


See the associated news article here:

• Vitamin D linked to low coronavirus death rate

And for more information on the fundamental importance of Vitamin D for both brain and body health, see:

• Vitamin D - Research articles

• Vitamin D - News