Vitamin D and COVID-19 mortality (merged)

[Sugarcubesea]

My Aunt who now snowbirds in Naples FL, was suppose to come back to the midwest when COVID-19 hit and decided to stay put, since she was safe, has great neighbors who all look out for each other...

Since she is widowed, the neighbors decided early on that they would all take walks, to get out in the sun and get vitamin d naturally. She told me they are all social distancing as they walk, she said it's like the pied piper where they all walk single file with 6 ft distance between the person in front...She told me no one in her neighborhood has gotten COVID-19 and all of the folks on her street and group that she hangs with are all retired. She also chats every day with her girlfriends that snowbird down there as well and everyone seems to be doing good.

 

[Lydlady]

I was surprised to find out how low I was on Vitamin D when tested last year. I live in sunny Southern California so how can I be low? But I guess between working indoors and wearing sunscreen, it happens. So now I take 1000 IU of Vitamin D3.

 

[elaine]

DH takes 2000 IU, recommended by Dr. I take 1000IU, which makes my vit D level 31, low normal on lab range of normal 30-50. The normal range used to be 20+ and under 20 was deficient. DD was at 18 and they gave her prescription vit D for 4 weeks. I take the minimal supplements/meds etc. to keep me in normal range. Vit D also affects heart health. I don't know of any reason not to take at least 1000IU.

 

[WVBaker]

The Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine University of Oxford develops, promotes and disseminates better evidence for healthcare.

Vitamin D: A rapid review of the evidence for treatment or prevention in COVID-19

VERDICT
We found no clinical evidence on vitamin D in COVID-19. There was no evidence related to vitamin D deficiency predisposing to COVID-19, nor were there studies of supplementation for preventing or treating COVID-19.

Vitamin D: A rapid review of the evidence for treatment or prevention in COVID-19 - The Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine

We found no evidence related to vitamin D deficiency predisposing to COVID-19, nor supplementation for preventing or treating COVID-19.

www.cebm.net

A comparison of studies, results and opinions is always valuable. Let's hope they can reach some sort of agreement sooner than later.

 

[Panina]

The Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine University of Oxford develops, promotes and disseminates better evidence for healthcare.

Vitamin D: A rapid review of the evidence for treatment or prevention in COVID-19

VERDICT
We found no clinical evidence on vitamin D in COVID-19. There was no evidence related to vitamin D deficiency predisposing to COVID-19, nor were there studies of supplementation for preventing or treating COVID-19.

Vitamin D: A rapid review of the evidence for treatment or prevention in COVID-19 - The Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine

We found no evidence related to vitamin D deficiency predisposing to COVID-19, nor supplementation for preventing or treating COVID-19.

www.cebm.net

A comparison of studies, results and opinions is always valuable. Let's hope they can reach some sort of agreement sooner than later.

Whether it helps or not, keeping your levels adequate is good for other reasons too. There was a time when I felt unbalanced and my levels of B, D, and C were on the low number side. Doctors couldn’t find anything wrong with me and being the vitamins were low but in the range they felt that wasn’t the problem. I did lots of readings, a few pointed to the B and D even if within range, on the lower end some experienced what I was. Started taking supplements and quickly I felt fine.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

I am supplementing with a low dose Vitamin D and getting outside every day. Can't hurt but important to check with your doctor on iron levels if you are athletic. This affected my DD who was a D1 athlete and the university doctor tested and discovered the out of balance iron levels in time to correct.

The Association between Iron and Vitamin D Status in Female Elite Athletes

Vitamin D may influence iron metabolism and erythropoiesis, whereas iron is essential for vitamin D synthesis. We examined whether vitamin D deficiencies (VDD) are associated with reduced iron status and whether progressive iron deficiency (ID) is accompanied ...

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

 

["Roger"]

Note: There is already another thread on this subject: https://tugbbs.com/forums/threads/vitamin-d-and-covid-19-mortality.304401/#post-2439426

I am interested in WV Baker's link. The other thread includes a second study saying that deaths with those with a low level of vitamin D are higher.

How to explain the contradictory studies? I confess I am pretty much at a loss. One possibility is that WV Baker's link claims that vitamin D neither prevents nor is it an effective treatment for coVid-19. The other studies do not claim that it is a preventative measure nor a treatment. Rather they simply say that those with low levels of vitamin D are more likely to die if they contract coVid-19. I am open to other possible explanations.

Regardless of whether vitamin D has any benefit with regard to coVid-19, it is a bad idea to have a low level. Older people are more likely to develop low levels so it is a good idea to have your levels checked by your doctor - except at the moment, I would not want to go to a doctor's office to have blood work done. In fact, your doctor's office might not be available for routine blood work testing at the moment.

 

[davidvel]

Note: There is already another thread on this subject: https://tugbbs.com/forums/threads/vitamin-d-and-covid-19-mortality.304401/#post-2439426

I am interested in WV Baker's link. The other thread includes a second study saying that deaths with those with a low level of vitamin D are higher.

How to explain the contradictory studies? I confess I am pretty much at a loss. One possibility is that WV Baker's link claims that vitamin D neither prevents nor is it an effective treatment for coVid-19. The other studies do not claim that it is a preventative measure nor a treatment. Rather they simply say that those with low levels of vitamin D are more likely to die if they contract coVid-19. I am open to other possible explanations.

Regardless of whether vitamin D has any benefit with regard to coVid-19, it is a bad idea to have a low level. Older people are more likely to develop low levels so it is a good idea to have your levels checked by your doctor - except at the moment, I would not want to go to a doctor's office to have blood work done. In fact, your doctor's office might not be available for routine blood work testing at the moment.

It could be a lot of reasons. For example some may have low vitamin D as a result of an underlying condition, and it's the underlying condition that increases the death rate, not the low vitamin d. Increasing vitamin d doesn't fix the underlying condition, so doesn't "protect" you.

Lots of statistics/studies that confuse correlation with causation.

 

[bluehende]

Note: There is already another thread on this subject: https://tugbbs.com/forums/threads/vitamin-d-and-covid-19-mortality.304401/#post-2439426

I am interested in WV Baker's link. The other thread includes a second study saying that deaths with those with a low level of vitamin D are higher.

How to explain the contradictory studies? I confess I am pretty much at a loss. One possibility is that WV Baker's link claims that vitamin D neither prevents nor is it an effective treatment for coVid-19. The other studies do not claim that it is a preventative measure nor a treatment. Rather they simply say that those with low levels of vitamin D are more likely to die if they contract coVid-19. I am open to other possible explanations.

Regardless of whether vitamin D has any benefit with regard to coVid-19, it is a bad idea to have a low level. Older people are more likely to develop low levels so it is a good idea to have your levels checked by your doctor - except at the moment, I would not want to go to a doctor's office to have blood work done. In fact, your doctor's office might not be available for routine blood work testing at the moment.

Correlation is not necessarily causality. Since this disease hits the old hard there will be a lot of factors that effect older people that will correlate well, but have no real effect. Right now I would assume there is a pretty good correlation between grey hair and covid19 morbidity. I would not think that coloring your hair will help you. Over time good studies will be done and the factors involved will be better known. Right now people are throwing every dart at the data they have. And they should. Without that first dart we will never learn what is important.

 

[Ralph Sir Edward]

The Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine University of Oxford develops, promotes and disseminates better evidence for healthcare.

Vitamin D: A rapid review of the evidence for treatment or prevention in COVID-19

VERDICT
We found no clinical evidence on vitamin D in COVID-19. There was no evidence related to vitamin D deficiency predisposing to COVID-19, nor were there studies of supplementation for preventing or treating COVID-19.

Vitamin D: A rapid review of the evidence for treatment or prevention in COVID-19 - The Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine

We found no evidence related to vitamin D deficiency predisposing to COVID-19, nor supplementation for preventing or treating COVID-19.

www.cebm.net

A comparison of studies, results and opinions is always valuable. Let's hope they can reach some sort of agreement sooner than later.

From the detail of the article in question.

"
Reviews and meta-analyses of RCTs have found a protective effect of vitamin D3 supplementation taken over weeks to months. This was more pronounced in patients with the lowest baseline concentrations of vitamin D (though definitions of deficiency varied).[19, 20] One review of RCTs showed that vitamin D supplementation was associated with reduced ARTIs (OR for combined upper and lower RTI 0.64; 95% CI 0.49 to 0.84; p = 0.0014, I2 = 72%; 11 studies, n = 5389, NNTs over 3 months 9 to 33).[19] They also examined whether other factors might explain this effect, such as infrequent versus daily dosing of vitamin D3, baseline vitamin D status, adults versus children, sex, or healthy participants versus patients. The only significant association was the dosing interval: when vitamin D3 was administered daily it was associated with a significant reduction in ARTIs (OR, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.39 to 0.67), while vitamin D3 had no effect when administered in large doses once per month or less often (OR 0.86; 95% CI, 0.62 to 1.20).

A large meta-analysis of individual patient data from RCTs showed similar findings.[20] Vitamin D3 supplementation resulted in a significant reduction in the proportion of patients experiencing at least one ARTI (adjusted OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.81 to 0.96, P=0.003; NNT=33 [20 to 101], n=10,933). The effect of supplementation was greatest in patients with serum concentrations below 25 nmol/L (adjusted OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.40 to 0.82, NNT = 8 [5 to 21], n=538). Daily or weekly dosing seemed to be protective, even when baseline concentrations were above 25 nmol/L, but intermittent larger doses were not effective, even in patients with vitamin D deficiency. Subgroup analyses did not show significant effects when upper and lower respiratory tract infections were analysed separately."

This not a COVID-19 test, but metadata from other similar type infections. It is not inconsistent with the Indonesia data on my first post.

The risk of daily vitamin D3 supplementation, up to 5,000 ICU is virtually nil. It may (or may not) help, but clearly should not be just written off.

 

[Monykalyn]

Vitamin D also takes longer to produce in darker color skin than lighter color skin. Sunscreen does block the absorption from sunlight. Also, don’t take on an empty stomach to help with absorption.

Yes need to take with a meal containing fat for best absorption.

 

[RNCollins]

DS19 didn't bother taking a suppl. Just ordered a bottle for him.

@elaine, do you have at least 19 children??

 

[DrQ]

Mushrooms are a good source of vitamin D

 

[WinniWoman]

This is why in winter climates the viruses take off? When people are not outside as much?

 

[Ralph Sir Edward]

This is why in winter climates the viruses take off? When people are not outside as much?

Yes, that is the suspicion behind the seasonality of influenza.

 

[easyrider]

This newest study shows that there is a connection of low vit d and covid 19. Vit D might be one the best supplements a person can take to make their immune system stronger.

Bill

 

[Ralph Sir Edward]

Vitamin D3, to be precise.

 

[Brett]

seems to be a lot of Vitamin D studies (and TUG threads about vitamin D)

https://tugbbs.com/forums/threads/vitamin-d-and-covid-19-mortality-merged.304401/

 

[Monykalyn]

Funnily enough-listening to my boss talk about this (we work in clinical nutrition) on zoom. Also Vit C and Zinc.

 

[Monykalyn]

This is why in winter climates the viruses take off? When people are not outside as much?

Vit D, Zinc and Vit C through whatever your "winter" season is. Sunshine is not enough as we age-we lose the conversion ability to absorb and covert vitamin D through our skin.

 

[WinniWoman]

Vit D, Zinc and Vit C through whatever your "winter" season is. Sunshine is not enough as we age-we lose the conversion ability to absorb and covert vitamin D through our skin.

I take a multivitamin and D3. I worry that now that we have municipal water instead of well water we are not getting enough minerals. But anyway- people still need to get a lot sunshine and they don't in the winter.

When I worked I was always outside and I did believe that was one reason I never got the flu or even a cold even though I was visiting health facilities all day everyday.

 

[Monykalyn]

I take a multivitamin and D3. I worry that now that we have municipal water instead of well water we are not getting enough minerals. But anyway- people still need to get a lot sunshine and they don't in the winter.

When I worked I was always outside and I did believe that was one reason I never got the flu or even a cold even though I was visiting health facilities all day everyday.

Your multivitamin if it has the mineral component too will cover you. Fresh air-instead of recirculated air especially in winter-definitely seems to help. I know I breathe a lot better in cold dry air or hot dry air (Las vegas dry).

 

[MULTIZ321]

New study links low vitamin D levels with high COVID-19 death rate.

New study links low vitamin D levels with high COVID-19 death rate

Vitamin D has been shown to protect against acute respiratory infections

gulfnews.com

.


Richard

 

[Monykalyn]

New study links low vitamin D levels with high COVID-19 death rate.

New study links low vitamin D levels with high COVID-19 death rate

Vitamin D has been shown to protect against acute respiratory infections

gulfnews.com

.


Richard

I've noticed that nearly every resident I've had to assess this past 2 weeks has had Vit D added by the facility doctor (if they weren't already on it). He's adding 1000-2000 IU daily.