High doses of vitamin D supplements have been recommended to reduce the severity of seasonal influenza and can help fight off Covid-19. Low vitamin D levels lead to poor outcomes which result in respiratory infection.
During the ongoing corona virus pandemic which has claimed many lives since the outbreak in 2019, scientists renewed their interest in studying the role of vitamin D supplements in protecting individuals from severe infection.
Previous studies have shown that vitamin D is beneficial in treating Covid-19. The studies have shown that patients with low level of vitamin D circulation (Serum 25 (OH) D, 25D) were among the patients who died from the virus.
Scientists reported that vitamin D plays an important role in the anti-viral response. However, the response my vary with different viruses. It does not mean that vitamin D will help fight against any other virus.
A previous vitro study revealed that 1,25D treatment of T cells from individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) showed a significant decrease in viral RNA transcription by direct decrease of NF-KB, which reactivates proviral HIV. However, similar treatment in vitro treatment on epithelial cells of patients infected with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)did not affect viral replication.
Research has shown that vitamin D supplements targets lung epithelial cells due to the presence of vitamin D receptors (VDR).
The study’s results strongly show that vitamin D and 1,25D treatment could help protect a person lung from being infected with Covid-19.