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Sept. 3, 2020 / 11:01 AM

Vitamin D deficiency raises COVID-19 infection risk by 77%, study finds

By
Brian P. Dunleavy
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New research shows that vitamin D levels may play a role in whether a
person is susceptible to COVID-19 and how severe a case they end up
with if they get it. Photo by frolicsomepl/Pixabay
New research shows that vitamin D levels may play a role in whether a
person is susceptible to COVID-19 and how severe a case they end up
with if they get it. Photo by [47]frolicsomepl/Pixabay
[expand_gallery.svg]

Sept. 3 (UPI) -- Vitamin D deficiency increases a person's risk for
catching [48]COVID-19 by 77% compared to those with sufficient levels
of the nutrient, a study published Thursday by [49]JAMA Network Open
found.

As many as one in four of the nearly 500 participants in the study were
found to have less-than-optimal levels of vitamin D, the data showed.
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Among those found to be lacking the key nutrient, 22% contracted
COVID-19, the data showed.

Of the 60% of study subjects with adequate vitamin D levels, just 12%
were infected, according to the researchers.
RELATED [50]Immune systems differences may explain why COVID-19 hits
men harder

"There is prior evidence from multiple sources that vitamin D can
enhance both innate and adaptive immunity," Dr. David O. Meltzer, a
professor of medicine at the University of Chicago, told UPI.

Innate immunity refers to the body's natural immune system response.
Adaptive immunity describes how the immune system adjusts to a new
pathogen -- like a virus -- that is able to evade its natural response.

"Vitamin D also ... may prevent the excess inflammation that is part of
the challenge in managing severe COVID-19," Meltzer said.
RELATED [51]Common cold could boost COVID-19 immunity, study finds

Based on [52]existing research, many physicians recommend that patients
take vitamin D supplements if their diet is lacking in the nutrient
because it has been shown to play a role in immune health, according to
Kathryn A. Boling, a family physician at Mercy Medical Center in
Baltimore, who was not part of the JAMA Network Open study.

"There are some dietary sources of vitamin D, including fatty fishes
such as salmon, eggs, mushrooms and fortified foods, including most
milk and dairy products, but it is not easy to get the levels one would
get from supplements from these dietary sources alone," Meltzer said.

"Regular exposure to sunlight can [also] raise vitamin D levels," he
said.
RELATED [53]Certain COVID-19 antibodies may treat, prevent infection

For this study, Meltzer and his colleagues analyzed data on 489
University of Chicago Medicine patients for whom vitamin D status was
included in their electronic health records before the start of the
COVID-19 outbreak in the United States.

Researchers then tracked the health of these patients from March 3 to
April 10.

Of the 489 patients, 124, or 25%, had insufficient vitamin D levels in
their blood, while 287, or 59%, were found to have sufficient levels of
the nutrient, the data showed.

The vitamin D status of the remaining 16% of participants was
"uncertain," according to the researchers.

Vitamin D deficiency was found to increase the risk for testing
positive for COVID-19 by 77%, while older age -- which has been linked
with higher risk for the disease -- only raised the likelihood by 6%,
the study showed.

Non-White study participants were 2.5 times more likely to test
positive for the virus, the researchers found.

"Vitamin D deficiency was associated with an increased likelihood of
testing positive for COVID-19," Meltzer said. "Given that vitamin D
deficiency is common, supplementation of vitamin D intake might reduce
the likelihood of developing COVID-19."
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* [54]David O.
* [55]COVID-19

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