Scientists have warned vitamin D deficiency in ‘high-risk individuals’ should be identified and treated after a study found it was lacking in hospital patients with Covid-19.
The University of Cantabria research found that 82.2% of coronavirus patients, out of 216 tested, at Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecill were deficient in vitamin D. Men had lower levels than women.
Researchers recommended vitamin D treatment for ‘high-risk individuals’, such as the elderly and patients with comorbidities, and Covid-19 patients.
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Study co-author José Hernández said: ‘[Vitamin D treatment] might have beneficial effects in both the musculoskeletal and the immune system.’
Coronavirus patients with lower vitamin D levels also had raised serum levels of inflammatory markers, such as ferritin and D-dimer. These rise when the body is fighting off an infection.
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.
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Dr Hernández continued: ‘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,’ he added.
Vitamin D is a hormone the kidneys produce that controls blood calcium concentration and impacts the immune system.
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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.
Many studies point to the beneficial effect of vitamin D on the immune system, especially regarding protection against infections.
