According to The Sun, vitamin D is of high importance when it comes to coronavirus survival. No matter the symptoms, whether they are severe, mild, or even non-existing, vitamin D has a big say in the way the immune system responds to the COVID-19 infection.
“If you are deficient in Vitamin D, you are three to four times more likely to catch a cold. It, therefore, makes sense a viral respiratory infection like COVID-19 would be worse if you were Vitamin D-deficient,” said Dr. Jenna Macciochi, of the University of Sussex.
Public Health England officially advised the population to take vitamin D on a daily basis throughout the isolation. One of the main causes is that isolation keeps us away from the main source of vitamin D: the sun. it is also important that we are facing the lockdown after winter when vitamin D levels are dropping significantly.
The importance of vitamin D
The intestinal absorption of calcium, magnesium, and phosphate, and multiple other biological effects depend on Vitamin D. Its receptor cells are present in most organs, such as the brain, heart, skin, gonads, prostate, and breast. The strength, mass, and function of muscles, bone mineral density and remodeling are highly dependent on vitamin D levels.
These levels of intake are not recommended for long-term consumption and calcium requirements must be met. So, don’t take vitamin D without making sure your calcium levels are also right. Not just a deficiency in vitamin D but also the excess can cause abnormal functioning and premature aging.
Vitamin D deficiency
One billion people worldwide are vitamin D insufficient or deficient. The deficiency is dependent on diet and sun exposure. In the US, the deficiency of vitamin D is more often encountered in Hispanics and African-Americans, due to the high levels of melanin in their skin that act as a natural protectant from the sun. It is a good thing that the melanin protects the skin from the sun’s harmful effect, but it also protects it from the beneficial ones.
Vitamin D and the immune system
In general, vitamin D is highly responsible for our adaptive immune systems. Vitamin D deficiency increases the risk or contracting viral infections. This also includes HIV, acute respiratory tract infections, tuberculosis, and asthma. It is reasonable to consider vitamin D “a potential intervention to fight against COVID-19 infected patients,” say the scientists.
Where can vitamin D be found?
First, make sure you expose your skin to the sun every day without using sunscreen. Either it is in your garden, terrace, balcony, or your window.
Second, make sure you include foods that contain vitamin D. Fatty fish, fish livers oils, mushrooms that have been exposed to sunlight, dairy products, soy/almond/rice protein-based beverages, most of the breakfast cereals, cooked egg yolk, cooked beef liver. Third, use vitamin D supplements. Public Health England recommends a 10 microgram supplement of vitamin D daily in winter months.
