A new research study at the University of Chicago Medicine has found that when it comes to COVID-19, having vitamin D levels above those traditionally considered sufficient may lower the risk of infection, especially for Black people.
The study, published March 19 in JAMA Open Network, retrospectively examined the relationship between vitamin D levels and likelihood of testing positive for COVID-19.
While levels of 30 ng/ml or more are usually considered “sufficient,” the authors found that Black individuals who had levels of 30 to 40 ng/ml had a 2.64 times higher risk of testing positive for COVID-19 than people with levels of 40 ng/ml or greater.
Statistically significant associations of vitamin D levels with COVID-19 risk were not found in white people.
The study looked at data from over 3,000 patients at UChicago Medicine who had had their vitamin D levels tested within 14 days before a COVID-19 test.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, recommends getting enough sleep, maintaining a healthy diet, and avoiding or alleviating stress as the three most potent ways to keep your immune system strong.
He states that “it is much more healthy living than giving yourself supplements of anything”.
Recently, when responding to a question, Dr. Fauci told the actress Jennifer Garner that he takes two supplements: vitamin D and vitamin C.
Fauci states consistently that the best ways to control the pandemic are: good hand hygiene, mask-wearing, and social distancing.
Vitamin D might make sense.
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is naturally present in a few foods, added to others, and available as a dietary supplement. It is also produced when ultraviolet (UV) rays from sunlight strike the skin and trigger vitamin D synthesis. It comes in two main forms, D2 (ergocalciferol) and D3 (cholecalciferol). Both forms are well absorbed in the small intestine.
Yet, regarding vitamin D, “there is good evidence that if you have a low vitamin D level, you have more of a propensity to get infected”, Dr. Fauci commented.
Several scientific studies have concluded that being deficient in vitamin D can put you at greater risk of infection, and it appears anecdotally that finding has held true again during the coronavirus pandemic.
“There is good evidence that if you have a low vitamin D level, that you have more of a propensity to get infected when there are infections around,” Fauci said. “Those data are pretty good data.”
In addition to reducing inflammation in the body, vitamin D also helps our bodies absorb calcium, keeping bones healthy and strong, so it’s good for people of all ages and races to make sure they’re getting enough.
Sources of Vitamin D
Few foods naturally contain vitamin D. The flesh of fatty fish (such as trout, salmon, tuna, and mackerel) and fish liver oils are among the best sources.
HEALTH AND WELLNESS | CNBC
Date Tue, Sep 15 20208:00 PM EDT
“Vitamin D is a key nutrient for your immune system.” Dr. Anthony Fauci
According to Dr. Anthony Fauci, most “so-called immune boosting supplements” actually do “nothing.” However, there are two vitamins Fauci does recommend to help keep your immune system healthy.
“If you are deficient in vitamin D, that does have an impact on your susceptibility to infection. So I would not mind recommending, and I do it myself taking vitamin D supplements,” Fauci said during an Instagram Live on Thursday, when actress Jennifer Garner asked Fauci about immune-boosting supplements.
“COVID-19 infection is more prevalent among African Americans, older adults, nursing home residents and health care workers—populations who all have increased risk of vitamin D deficiency.” University of Chicago Medicine
Researchers at the University of Chicago Medicine recently found a link between vitamin D deficiency and the likelihood of being infected with COVID-19. Those with an untreated deficiency were more likely to test positive. Half of Americans are thought to be deficient in vitamin D, with much higher rates seen in African Americans, Hispanics and individuals living in areas where it is difficult to get enough sun exposure in winter.
“Vitamin D is important to the function of the immune system and vitamin D supplements have previously been shown to lower the risk of viral respiratory tract infections,” said David Meltzer, Chief of Hospital Medicine at UChicago Medicine and lead author of the study. “Our statistical analysis suggests this may be true for the COVID-19 infection.”
The research team looked at 489 patients at UChicago Medicine whose vitamin D level had been measured within a year before being tested for COVID-19. Patients who had vitamin D deficiency (defined as less than 20 nanograms per milliliter of blood) that was not treated were almost twice as likely to test positive for COVID-19 compared to patients who had sufficient levels of the vitamin.
In addition to vitamin D, Fauci said that vitamin C is “a good antioxidant.” “So if people want to take a gram or two at the most [of] vitamin C, that would be fine,” he said.
Vitamin C “contributes to immune defense by supporting various cellular functions” of the body’s immune systems, according to 2017 study published by The National Institutes of Health, and vitamin C also appears to prevent and treat “respiratory and systemic infections.” according to researchers.
But “any of the other concoctions and herbs I would not do,” Fauci said.
During another interview with actress Tiffany Haddish released on Sept 4., Fauci said in clinical studies most “so-called” immune-boosting supplements didn’t really help people unless they had some sort of a deficiency. If fact, a lot of these herbs “either do nothing, or, if you take too much of them, they harm you,” Fauci told Haddish.
Overall, the best way to boost your immune system is to get good sleep and exercise, Fauci said. “Those are the things that are so much better than a bunch of herbs that really have never really been shown to do that,” Fauci told Haddish.
