More than 80% of hospital patients with Covid-19 lack vitamin D, which is among vitamins linked to fewer respiratory complaints, studies have found.
Scientists have warned that vitamin D deficiency in ‘high-risk individuals’ should be identified and treated.
New research published by the University of Cantabria last week found that 82.2% of 216 coronavirus patients tested at Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecill were deficient in vitamin D.
It also found that men had lower levels of the vitamin than women and that Covid patients with lower vitamin D levels also had raised serum levels of inflammatory markers, such as ferritin and D-dimer.
In contrast, out of a control group of people who didn’t have Covid-19, just 47% of people were deficient in vitamin D.
However, the research did not find a link between circulating levels of vitamin D and severity of Covid-19 infection, such as ICU admission, the need for mechanical ventilation or mortality.
Researchers recommended vitamin D treatment for ‘high-risk individuals’, such as the elderly and patients with comorbidities, as well as Covid-19 patients.
Study co-author José Hernández said: ‘[Vitamin D treatment] might have beneficial effects in both the musculoskeletal and the immune system.’
He added: ‘One approach is to identify and treat vitamin D deficiency, especially in high-risk individuals such as the elderly, patients with comorbidities, and nursing home residents, who are the main target population for the Covid-19.
‘Vitamin D treatment should be recommended in Covid-19 patients with low levels of vitamin D circulating in the blood.’
Deficiency in the vitamin has been linked to a variety of health concerns, although research is still underway into why the hormone impacts other systems of the body.
It comes as another study, published in the BMJ Nutrition Prevention and Health journal this week, found that higher levels of vitamins A, E and D are linked to fewer ‘respiratory complaints’ in adults.
The study analysed the data of 6,115 adult participants of the Government’s 2008–2016 National Diet and Nutrition Survey Rolling Programme – which collected annual data on all food and drink consumed by around 1,000 randomly-selected people living in private households across the UK.
It found that vitamin A and E intake from both diet and supplements was associated with a lower prevalence of respiratory complaints, while vitamin D intake from supplements only was associated with the same.
The study said: ‘It is estimated that around a fifth of the general population in the UK have low vitamin D, and over 30% of older adults aged 65 years and above do not achieve the recommended nutrient intake.
‘Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that supplementation is critical to ensuring adequate vitamin D status is maintained and potentially indicate that intake of vitamin D from diet alone cannot help maintain adequate vitamin D status.’
However, the findings warrant further investigation in different ethnic groups and locations in light of the coronavirus pandemic, the researchers concluded.
Many studies have pointed to the beneficial effect of vitamin D on the immune system, especially regarding protection against infections.
However, in June a review by NICE concluded that there is insufficient evidence to support taking vitamin D supplements to specifically prevent or treat Covid-19.
Meanwhile, there has been a marked increase in vitamin D supplement prescriptions for children in the UK over the past decade.
Additional reporting by Mimi Launder
READERS' COMMENTS [11]
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Another publication bias. It was winter before covid struck.
90% of the population have low vitamin D according to the current reference ranges, so it’s less than average. The reference range is wrong
I think effect of vitaamin d in protecting lots of health problems is debatable but it may help so no harm in taking it,.
The whole population has low vitamin D, because it is winter and we just spent the whole summer indoors, away from sunlight.
And how do they know ? – we are not allowed a Vitamin D test on patients.
It’s more cost-effective to give supplements that to test anyway, isn’t it??
As per the comments above- what were the values in non Covid hospitalised patients? And is vitamin D a cause of good health or just a sign of healthy living? That said I take a high dose supplement- maybe I’m a mug….
Publication bias. So there’s no vitamin D in Brazil, Mexico or India?
Yet to see a single patient feel remarkably better after treating a vitamin D deficiency.
Surely there is a link with low Vit D and being housebound/rarely going out – surely these are bigger risk factors than the vit D level which may be a surrogate marker of general wellbeing.
It’s hardly newsworthy. I suspect 80% of any group admitted to hospital with an emergency are “deficient” in Vit D.
Publi Health England seem to be woefully slow in promoting Vit D supplementation, very feeble in promoting their own recommendation
I am cautious about this study on 216 patients in Spain which states:
In COVID-19 patients, mean±SD 25OHD levels were 13.8 ng/ml, compared to 20.9 ng/ml in controls (p<0.0001). As both these levels are much lower than the average healthy level of Vitamin D which is 50ng/ml and above. In fact 25-49 ng range is also lower than normal – so nearly 100% of this studies patients were defecient in Vitamin D. Correct me if I am wrong.
@Neil Banik “the average healthy level of Vitamin D which is 50ng/ml and above”
I think the question of “normal” Vitamin D level is at least somewhat controversial though.
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/vitamin-d-whats-right-level-2016121910893