scholarly journals Evidence Regarding Vitamin D and Risk of COVID-19 and Its Severity

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 3361 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph Mercola ◽  
William B. Grant ◽  
Carol L. Wagner
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin D ◽  
Vitamin D Deficiency ◽  
Skin Color ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Therapeutic Window ◽  
Hydroxyvitamin D ◽  
25 Hydroxyvitamin D ◽  
Vitamin D Supplements ◽  
Tract Infections ◽  
Endothelial Integrity

Vitamin D deficiency co-exists in patients with COVID-19. At this time, dark skin color, increased age, the presence of pre-existing illnesses and vitamin D deficiency are features of severe COVID disease. Of these, only vitamin D deficiency is modifiable. Through its interactions with a multitude of cells, vitamin D may have several ways to reduce the risk of acute respiratory tract infections and COVID-19: reducing the survival and replication of viruses, reducing risk of inflammatory cytokine production, increasing angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 concentrations, and maintaining endothelial integrity. Fourteen observational studies offer evidence that serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations are inversely correlated with the incidence or severity of COVID-19. The evidence to date generally satisfies Hill’s criteria for causality in a biological system, namely, strength of association, consistency, temporality, biological gradient, plausibility (e.g., mechanisms), and coherence, although experimental verification is lacking. Thus, the evidence seems strong enough that people and physicians can use or recommend vitamin D supplements to prevent or treat COVID-19 in light of their safety and wide therapeutic window. In view of public health policy, however, results of large-scale vitamin D randomized controlled trials are required and are currently in progress.

scholarly journals Role of Vitamin D Supplements in Prevention of Hungry Bone Syndrome after Successful Parathyroidectomy for Primary Hyperparathyroidism: A Prospective Study

2020 ◽  
pp. 145749692096260
Author(s):  
M. A. Salman ◽  
A. Rabiee ◽  
A. Salman ◽  
A. Youssef ◽  
H. E.-D. Shaaban ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin D ◽  
Primary Hyperparathyroidism ◽  
Vitamin D Deficiency ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Mineral Density ◽  
Hydroxyvitamin D ◽  
Group I ◽  
Vitamin D Levels ◽  
25 Hydroxyvitamin D ◽  
Vitamin D Supplements

Background: We postulated that the preoperative correction of vitamin D levels can significantly reduce the incidence of hunger bone syndrome among patients undergoing parathyroidectomy for primary hyperparathyroidism. Methods: We performed a prospective, randomized, open-label study on 102 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism and coexisting vitamin D deficiency who were scheduled to undergo parathyroidectomy. Patients were divided into the following two groups: group I which included 52 patients who did not receive preoperative vitamin D supplementation; and group II which included 50 patients who received cholecalciferol 1000–2000 IU daily or 50000 IU weekly until they achieve vitamin D levels >20 ng/mL (group IIa = 25 patients) or vitamin D levels >30 ng/mL (group IIb = 25 patients). Results: The incidence of hunger bone syndrome in group IIb was lower than group I and group IIa (8% versus 16% versus 23%, respectively); however, this difference did not reach the level of statistical significance (p = 0.22). Patients with hunger bone syndrome were significantly younger and had higher serum phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, magnesium, and bone mineral density at baseline than patients without hunger bone syndrome. On the other hand, patients with hunger bone syndrome had significantly lower 25-hydroxyvitamin D at baseline than patients without hunger bone syndrome (p = 0.001). The ROC curve showed that the baseline level of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D was not an independent discriminator of hunger bone syndrome (area under curve = 0.21 (95% CI: 0.06–0.34); p = 0.011). Conclusion: Preoperative course of vitamin D supplements has no preventive role on the postoperative incidence of hunger bone syndrome among patients with primary hyperparathyroidism and coexisting vitamin D deficiency undergoing parathyroidectomy.

scholarly journals Does the High Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency in African Americans Contribute to Health Disparities?

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 499
Author(s):  
Bruce N. Ames ◽  
William B. Grant ◽  
Walter C. Willett
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin D ◽  
African Americans ◽  
Vitamin D Deficiency ◽  
High Latitudes ◽  
Uvb Radiation ◽  
Vitamin D Status ◽  
Dark Skin ◽  
Hydroxyvitamin D ◽  
25 Hydroxyvitamin D ◽  
Tract Infections

African Americans have higher incidence of, and mortality from, many health-related problems than European Americans. They also have a 15 to 20-fold higher prevalence of severe vitamin D deficiency. Here we summarize evidence that: (i) this health disparity is partly due to insufficient vitamin D production, caused by melanin in the skin blocking the UVB solar radiation necessary for its synthesis; (ii) the vitamin D insufficiency is exacerbated at high latitudes because of the combination of dark skin color with lower UVB radiation levels; and (iii) the health of individuals with dark skin can be markedly improved by correcting deficiency and achieving an optimal vitamin D status, as could be obtained by supplementation and/or fortification. Moderate-to-strong evidence exists that high 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and/or vitamin D supplementation reduces risk for many adverse health outcomes including all-cause mortality rate, adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes, cancer, diabetes mellitus, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, multiple sclerosis, acute respiratory tract infections, COVID-19, asthma exacerbations, rickets, and osteomalacia. We suggest that people with low vitamin D status, which would include most people with dark skin living at high latitudes, along with their health care provider, consider taking vitamin D3 supplements to raise serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels to 30 ng/mL (75 nmol/L) or possibly higher.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Vitamin-D Status and Its Association with Clinical Outcomes Among COVID-19 Patients in Pakistan

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Sohaib Asghar ◽  
Farah Yasmin ◽  
Kartik Dapke ◽  
Syed Muhammad Ismail Shah ◽  
Muhammad Daim Bin Zafar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin D ◽  
Mechanical Ventilation ◽  
Vitamin D Deficiency ◽  
Cox Regression ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Hydroxyvitamin D ◽  
Probability Of Survival ◽  
Pulmonary Infiltrates ◽  
25 Hydroxyvitamin D ◽  
Tract Infections

The risk of acute respiratory tract infections is particularly pronounced in patients deficient in 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D). With respect to COVID-19, there are conflicting evidence on the association of 25(OH)D levels with disease severity. We undertook this study to evaluate the 25(OH)D status in COVID-19 patients admitted in Karachi, Pakistan, and associated vitamin D deficiency with primary outcomes of mortality, length of stay, intubation, and frequency of COVID-19 symptoms. A total of 91 patients were evaluated for 25(OH)D status during their COVID-19 disease course. 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were classified as deficient (< 10 ng/mL), insufficient (10–30 ng/mL), or sufficient (> 30 ng/mL). The study population comprised 68.1% males (N = 62). The mean age was 52.6 ± 15.7 years. Vitamin D deficiency was significantly associated with intensive care unit (ICU) admission (RR: 3.20; P = 0.048), invasive ventilation (RR: 2.78; P = 0.043), persistent pulmonary infiltrates (RR: 7.58; P < 0.001), and death (RR: 2.98; P < 0.001) on univariate Cox regression. On multivariate Cox regression, only death (RR: 2.13; P = 0.046) and persistent pulmonary infiltrates (RR: 6.78; P = 0.009) remained significant after adjustment for confounding factors. On Kaplan Meier curves, vitamin D deficient patients had persistent pulmonary infiltrates and a greater probability of requiring mechanical ventilation than patients with 25(OH)D ≥ 10 ng/mL. Mechanical ventilation had to be initiated early in the deficient group during the 30-day hospital stay (Chi-square: 4.565, P = 0.033). Patients with 25(OH)D ≥ 10 ng/mL also demonstrated a higher probability of survival than those with 25(OH)D concentrations < 10 ng/mL. 25-hydroxyvitamin D deficient population had longer hospital stays and worse outcomes.

scholarly journals Vitamin D Supplementation Could Prevent and Treat Influenza, Coronavirus, and Pneumonia Infections

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
William B. Grant ◽  
Henry Lahore ◽  
Sharon L. McDonnell ◽  
Carole A. Baggerly ◽  
Christine B. French ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin D ◽  
Chronic Diseases ◽  
Vitamin D Supplementation ◽  
Virus Infections ◽  
Hydroxyvitamin D ◽  
Risk Of Death ◽  
25 Hydroxyvitamin D ◽  
Syncytial Virus ◽  
Vitamin D Supplements ◽  
Tract Infections

Low vitamin D status in winter permits viral epidemics. During winter, people who do not take vitamin D supplements are likely to have low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations. Vitamin D can reduce the risk of viral epidemics and pandemics in several ways. First, higher 25(OH)D concentrations reduce the risk of many chronic diseases, including cancers, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory tract infections (RTIs), diabetes mellitus, and hypertension. Patients with chronic diseases have significantly higher risk of death from RTIs than otherwise healthy people. Second, vitamin D reduces risk of RTIs through three mechanisms: maintaining tight junctions, killing enveloped viruses through induction of cathelicidin and defensins, and reducing production of proinflammatory cytokines by the innate immune system, thereby reducing the risk of a cytokine storm leading to pneumonia. Observational and supplementation trials have reported higher 25(OH)D concentrations associated with reduced risk of dengue, hepatitis, herpesvirus, hepatitis B and C viruses, human immunodeficiency virus, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus infections, and pneumonia. Results of a community field trial reported herein indicated that 25(OH)D concentrations above 50 ng/ml (125 nmol/l) vs. &lt;20 ng/ml were associated with a 27% reduction in influenza-like illnesses. From the available evidence, we hypothesize that raising serum 25(OH)D concentrations through vitamin D supplementation could reduce the incidence, severity, and risk of death from influenza, pneumonia, and the current COVID-19 epidemic.

Depressed Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Levels Increase Hospital Stay and Alter Glucose Homeostasis in First-ever Ischemic Stroke

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 340-347
Author(s):  
Yuge Wang ◽  
Yanqiang Wang ◽  
Bingjun Zhang ◽  
Yinyao Lin ◽  
Sha Tan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin D ◽  
Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Hospital Stay ◽  
Functional Outcome ◽  
Vitamin D Deficiency ◽  
Glucose Homeostasis ◽  
Clinical Severity ◽  
Hydroxyvitamin D ◽  
25 Hydroxyvitamin D ◽  
Deficiency Group

Background and Objective: Vitamin D deficiency is internationally recognized among the potentially modifiable risk factors for ischemic cardio-cerebrovascular diseases. However, the association between vitamin D deficiency and stroke morbidity or mortality remains insufficiently known. Our aim is to investigate their relevance to 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH) D] levels and clinical severity and outcome after 3 months in first-ever ischemic stroke. Methods: Retrospective analysis of 356 consecutive patients in first-ever ischemic stroke between 2013 and 2015. Serum 25(OH) D levels were measured at baseline. Stroke severity was assessed at admission using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score. Functional outcome after 3 months of onset was evaluated using the modified Rankin scale (mRS). Results: Among the 356 enrolled patients, HbA1c was higher in insufficiency/deficiency group than that in the sufficiency group (6.3 ± 1.7 vs. 5.9 ± 1.1, p =0.015). The hospital stay was longer in insufficiency/deficiency group than that in the sufficiency group (11 (8-17) vs. 9.5 (7-13), p = 0.035). There was a significant inversed trend between serum 25(OH) D levels and hospital stay (OR 0.960, P = 0.031), using logistic regression. Conclusions: 25(OH)D levels are associated with glucose homeostasis, 25(OH) D contributes to increase the length of hospital stay. Low serum 25-OHD level is an independent predictor for hospital stay in first-ever ischemic stroke. Vitamin D deficiency did not predict functional outcome in the span of 3 months.

scholarly journals Association of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D with metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes: a one sample Mendelian randomization study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Xiao ◽  
Jingyi Lv ◽  
Shiyu Wang ◽  
Yang Zhou ◽  
Lunwen Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Type 2 Diabetes ◽  
Metabolic Syndrome ◽  
Vitamin D ◽  
Vitamin D Deficiency ◽  
Mendelian Randomization ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Hydroxyvitamin D ◽  
25 Hydroxyvitamin D ◽  
Randomization Analysis

Abstract Background Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and metabolic syndrome (MS) and its components. However, it is unclear whether a low concentration of vitamin D is the cause or consequence of these health conditions. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the association of vitamin D concentrations and its genetic risk scores (GRSs) with MS and its component diseases, such as T2D, in middle-aged and elderly participants from rural eastern China. Methods A subset of 2393 middle-aged and elderly individuals were selected from 70,458 participants of the Nantong Chronic Diseases Study of 2017–2018 in China. We used two 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) synthesis single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (DHCR7-rs12785878 and CYP2R1-rs10741657) and two 25(OH) D metabolism SNPs (GC-rs2282679 and CYP24A1-rs6013897) for creating GRSs, which were used as instrumental variables to assess the effect of genetically lowered 25(OH) D concentrations on MS and T2D based on the Wald ratio. F statistics were used to validate that the four SNPs genetically determined 25(OH) D concentrations. Results Compared to vitamin D sufficient individuals, individuals with vitamin D insufficiency had an odds ratio (OR [95% confidence interval {CI}]) of MS of 1.30 (1.06–1.61) and of T2D of 1.32 (1.08–1.64), individuals with vitamin D deficiency had an ORs (95% CI) of MS of 1.50 (1.24–1.79) and of T2D of 1.47 (1.12–1.80), and those with vitamin D severe deficiency had an ORs (95% CI) of MS of 1.52 (1.29–1.85) and of T2D of 1.54 (1.27–1.85). Mendelian randomization analysis showed a 25-nmol/L decrease in genetically instrumented serum 25(OH) D concentrations using the two synthesis SNPs (DHCR7 and CYP2R1 genes) associated with the risk of T2D and abnormal diastolic blood pressure (DBP) with ORs of 1.10 (95%CI: 1.02–1.45) for T2D and 1.14 (95%CI: 1.03–1.43) for DBP. Conclusions This one sample Mendelian randomization analysis shows genetic evidence for a causal role of lower 25(OH) D concentrations in promoting of T2D and abnormal DBP in middle-aged and elderly participants from rural China.

Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Concentrations and Cardiometabolic Biomarkers in Chinese Rural Population

2021 ◽  
Vol 53 (02) ◽  
pp. 105-111
Author(s):  
Dongdong Zhang ◽  
Cheng Cheng ◽  
Yan Wang ◽  
Yuan Xue ◽  
Yiming Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin D ◽  
Vitamin D Deficiency ◽  
Rural Population ◽  
Density Lipoprotein ◽  
Cubic Spline ◽  
Lipoprotein Cholesterol ◽  
Linear Regression Models ◽  
Hydroxyvitamin D ◽  
Linear Association ◽  
25 Hydroxyvitamin D

AbstractThere is a paucity of data on the relation between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentration and cardiometabolic biomarkers in the Chinese population. To comprehensively and quantitatively examine the association of 25(OH)D and cardiometabolic traits, we conducted a cross-sectional study in the Chinese rural population. Serum 25(OH)D and eight cardiometabolic biomarkers were measured in 1714 individuals from Henan province, China. Scatter plot was used to visualize the distribution and correlation of 25(OH)D and cardiometabolic indicators. Moreover, multivariate linear regressions and restricted cubic spline (RCS) functions were performed to examine the quantitative association between the serum 25(OH)D and cardiometabolic parameters. The median serum 25(OH)D level was 19.94 ng/ml in all participants, with an estimated 50.12% presenting vitamin D deficiency. Serum 25(OH)D level showed significantly modest association with cardiometabolic parameters (p<0.05) except for diastolic blood pressure (r=0.03, p=0.22). Multiple linear regression models showed that 25(OH)D concentration was positively associated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and negatively associated with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and fasting serum glucose (GLU). The results of restricted cubic spline models indicated a positively linear association of 25(OH)D with HDL-C (p for overall<0.001, p for nonlinearity=0.191) and a negatively linear association with GLU (p for overall=0.024, p for nonlinearity=0.095). Overall, vitamin D deficiency was very common among Chinese rural population living near the 34 degrees north latitude. Besides, there were significant association between 25(OH)D concentrations and cardiometabolic biomarkers including HDL-C and GLU levels. Future longitudinal studies and randomized trials are warranted to clarify the causal relationship.

Using Activities of Daily Living Assessments to Measure the Effectiveness of Vitamin D Supplements in Elderly Long-Stay Patients

1987 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 60-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
D Corless ◽  
M Ellis ◽  
E Dawson ◽  
F Fraser ◽  
S Evans ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin D ◽  
Elderly Patients ◽  
Activities Of Daily Living ◽  
Daily Living ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Hydroxyvitamin D ◽  
Low Concentrations ◽  
25 Hydroxyvitamin D ◽  
Vitamin D Supplements

Selected activities of daily living were used to measure improvement in independence of long-stay elderly patients known to have low concentrations of plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D. This was a double-blind random controlled trial lasting between 8 and 40 weeks. No significant changes were found in either group.

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