Higher levels of ‘the sunshine vitamin’ have been shown to reduce the risk of infection in the black population, a new study has revealed.
According to David O. Meltzer, MD, PhD, head of hospital medicine at the University of Chicago Medicine, there are nearly half of Americans deficient in vitamins. But more than three-quarters of people with darker skin have low levels of this important nutrient.
He was inspired to investigate the data on Covid-19 cases, after seeing an article more than a year ago that people who use vitamin D supplements had much lower infections.
The study analyzed more than 3,000 patients in the city who had their vitamin D measured within two weeks after a Covid-19 test.
Levels of at least 30 ng / ml (nanograms per milliliter) are generally considered “adequate”, but black participants with vitamin D levels are more than two and a half times more likely to catch Covid than those with 40 ng / ml or more. more.
RELATED: Anyone in these states can get a Covid-19 vaccine, thanks to several indigenous strains
They had a 7.2 percent chance of testing the virus positively – 2.64 times higher than the general population.
Vitamin D can be obtained by eating egg yolks, salmon or meat or taking supplements, but it is also naturally produced by the body when the skin is exposed to sunlight.
People with darker skin are more deficient because more melanin in their skin reduces their ability to synthesize vitamin D from the sun.
The findings published in JAMA Open Network build on an earlier trial suggesting that less than 20 ng / ml vitamin D increases the risk of Covid.
Another recent study showed that more than eight out of ten patients with a coronavirus have vitamin D deficiency.
“It supports arguments for designing clinical trials that can test whether vitamin D can be a viable intervention to reduce the risk of the disease, especially in people of color,” said Dr. Meltzer, lead author of the study, said.
WANTED: Cannabis compound inhibits COVID-19 replication in human lung cells, says study
The supplements are relatively safe to take – and currently the recommended nutritional value for vitamins D for adults is 600 to 800 IU per day (15 to 20 micrograms). The NHS in Britain recommends taking ten micrograms of vitamin D every day in the winter – equivalent to one salmon fillet – to keep your bones and muscles healthy.
But they have updated their advice since locksmiths run Brits indoors.
“The National Academy of Medicine has said that ingesting up to 4,000 IU per day is safe for the vast majority of people,” Meltzer adds.
MORE: The ultimate guide to flu prevention: 4 micronutrients you need to eat this winter to stay healthy
One of the challenges of the current study is that it is difficult to determine exactly how vitamin D can support immune function.
Dr Meltzer said: ‘This is an observational study. We can see there is a link between vitamin D levels and the likelihood of a Covid-19 diagnosis.
“But we do not know exactly why this is, or whether these results are directly due to vitamin D or other related biological factors.”
Led by the new evidence, researchers are now conducting two studies to determine whether taking a daily supplement can help prevent Covid-19 or reduce the severity of its symptoms – and British Health Secretary Matt Hancock said his previous convictions reversed and public health England asked. to review the existing evidence on the link between Covid-19 and vitamin D.
SHINE a light on COVID prevention – share it on social media …