Vitamin D deficiency increases risk of death in COVID-19 patients

People who have Vitamin D deficiency may be at a higher risk of death from the Novel coronavirus (COVID-19), according to a medical study conducted in the United Kingdom.

Elizabeth Hospital Foundation and the University of East Anglia found that there was a link between vitamin D and coronavirus severity.

The study linked high mortality rates across Europe to vitamin D deficiency.

Earlier, data on the average vitamin D rate in citizens of 20 countries across Europe was released, and the study compared the data to deaths from COVID-19 in those countries.

According to the research, the results indicate that there is a significant link between vitamin D deficiency and the number of deaths because the countries with the highest number of deaths from the disease also had the lowest vitamin rates.

The researchers said that the people most affected by COVID-19 was the one with the highest vitamin D deficiency.

Earlier this week, a study by Ireland’s Trinity College showed similar results.

According to Trinity College research, vitamin D may play a role in preventing respiratory infections, reducing the need for antibiotics and improving the immune system’s response to disease.

The study analysed the COVID-19 deaths and vitamin D levels in different parts of the world.

They found that in some countries, such as Australia, the death rate from COVID-19 was lower, while in countries where citizens were more prone to vitamin D deficiency, the fatality rate was higher n those countries.

The researchers said that vitamin D deficiency is the result of factors such as less exposure to sunlight, aging, hypertension, diabetes and obesity inefficient production in the skin, not enough vitamin D in your diet, and health conditions, which increases the risk of contracting COVID-19.

The researchers said that countries with high sunlight had a relatively low mortality rate, while those with less  sunlight in winter and spring had higher mortality rates, as Vitamin D deficiency is a common problem in Italy and Spain.

Research has shown that vitamin D plays an important role in the modulation of the inflammation system by regulating the production of inflammatory cytokines and immune cells, which are crucial for the immune-related diseases.

Researchers advice to conduct additional research to determine the link between vitamin D and COVID-19 intensity, and that governments around the world should focus on the use of vitamin supplements.

They said dietary supplements (such as fish, cheese, egg yolks and liver) and supplements can also increase the level of vitamin D in the bloodstream, while this vitamin is beneficial for the health of bones, muscles and the immune system. And it can reduce the severity of the immune response that exacerbates the complications of COVID-19.

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