Evidence that Vitamin D Supplementation Could Reduce Risk of Influenza and COVID-19 Infections and Deaths

Grant, William B.; Lahore, Henry; McDonnell, Sharon L.; Baggerly, Carole A.; French, Christine; Aliano, Jennifer L.; Bhattoa, Harjit Pal

doi:10.3390/nu12040988

Cited by 1,576 publications

(1,455 citation statements)

References 155 publications

(173 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

1,316

Contrasting

Unclassified

106

Order By: Relevance

“…A slightly higher correlation, as it should be, is present between T and D s . Note that our results are in agreement with the fact that increased vitamin D levels have been proposed to have a protective effect against COVID-19 [45][46][47].…”

Section: Vitamin D Serum Concentrationsupporting

confidence: 92%

COVID-19 transmission risk factors

Notari

Torrieri²

2020

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

We analyze risk factors correlated with the initial transmission growth rate of the recent COVID-19 pandemic in different countries. The number of cases follows in its early stages an almost exponential expansion; we chose as a starting point in each country the first day di with 30 cases and we fitted for 12 days, capturing thus the early exponential growth. We looked then for linear correlations of the exponents α with other variables, for a sample of 126 countries. We find a positive correlation, i.e. faster spread of COVID-19, with high confidence level with the following variables, with respective p-value: low Temperature (4·10 −7 ), high ratio of old vs. working-age people (3·10 −6 ), life expectancy (8 · 10 −6 ), number of international tourists (1 · 10 −5 ), earlier epidemic starting date di (2 · 10 −5 ), high level of physical contact in greeting habits (6 · 10 −5 ), lung cancer prevalence (6 · 10 −5 ), obesity in males (1 · 10 −4 ), share of population in urban areas (2 · 10 −4 ), cancer prevalence (3 · 10 −4 ), alcohol consumption (0.0019), daily smoking prevalence (0.0036), UV index (0.004, smaller sample, 73 countries), low Vitamin D serum levels (p-value 0.002 − 0.006, smaller sample, ∼ 50 countries). There is highly significant correlation also with blood type: positive correlation with types RH-(2·10 −5 ) and A+ (2·10 −3 ), negative correlation with B+ (2·10 −4 ). We also find positive correlation with moderate confidence level (p-value of 0.02 ∼ 0.03) with: CO2/SO emissions, type-1 diabetes in children, low vaccination coverage for Tuberculosis (BCG). Several of the above variables are correlated with each other and so they are likely to have common interpretations. Other variables are found to have a counterintuitive negative correlation, which may be explained due their strong negative correlation with life expectancy: slower spread of COVID-19 is correlated with high deathrate due to pollution, prevalence of anemia and hepatitis B, high blood pressure in females. We also analyzed the possible existence of a bias: countries with low GDP-per capita, typically located in warm regions, might have less intense testing and we discuss correlation with the above variables.

show abstract

Section: Vitamin D Serum Concentrationsupporting

confidence: 92%

COVID-19 transmission risk factors

Notari

Torrieri²

2020

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“… It has been proposed that vitamin D may play a role in reducing the risk of respiratory infections, such as seasonal influenza, via modulation of inflammatory cytokine profiles and induction of cathelicidins and defensins (3,4). Previous observational research has identified vitamin D deficiency as a risk factor for ARDS and severity of ARDS (5), which can be a life threatening complication of COVID-19.…”

Section: Introductory Remarksmentioning

confidence: 99%

ENDOCRINOLOGY IN THE TIME OF COVID-19: Management of calcium metabolic disorders and osteoporosis

Gittoes

Criseno

Appelman‐Dijkstra

et al. 2020

European Journal of Endocrinology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Endocrinologists have had to make rapid changes to services so that resources can be focused on the COVID-19 response to help prevent spread of the virus. Herein we provide pragmatic advice on the management of commonly encountered calcium metabolic problems and osteoporosis. Non-urgent elective appointments should be postponed, and remote consultations and digital health solutions promoted. Patients should be empowered to self-manage their conditions safely. Patients, their caregivers and healthcare providers should be directed to assured national or international online resources and specific patient groups. For patients in acute hospital settings, existing emergency guidance on the management of hyper- and hypo-calcaemia should be followed. An approach to osteoporosis management is outlined. IV zoledronic acid infusions can be delayed for 6–9 months during the pandemic. Patients established on denosumab, teriparatide and abaloparatide should continue planned therapy. In the event of supply issues with teriparatide or abaloparatide, pausing this treatment in the short term is likely to be relatively harmless, whereas delaying denosumab may cause an immediate increased risk of fracture. The challenge of this pandemic will act as a catalyst to innovate within our management of metabolic bone and mineral disorders to ensure best use of resources and resilience of healthcare systems in its aftermath.

show abstract

“…Vitamin D has been identified as a potential strategy to prevent or treat COVID-19. 2 Vitamin D treatment has been found to decrease other viral respiratory infections, especially in persons with vitamin D deficiency. 3 Vitamin D deficiency is common, affecting nearly half the US population, with higher rates among persons with darker skin or reduced sun exposure, including persons living in higher latitudes in the winter, nursing home residents, and health care workers.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Association of Vitamin D Deficiency and Treatment with COVID-19 Incidence

Meltzer

Best

Zhang

et al. 2020

Preprint

128

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Word Count: 350 Manuscript Word Count: 2967Importance: Vitamin D treatment has been found to decrease incidence of viral respiratory tract infection, especially in vitamin D deficiency. It is unknown whether COVID-19 incidence is associated with vitamin D deficiency and treatment.Objective: To examine whether vitamin D deficiency and treatment are associated with testing positive for COVID-19. Design: Retrospective cohort studySetting: University of Chicago Medicine Participants: Patients tested for COVID-19 from 3/3/2020-4/10/2020. Vitamin D deficiency was defined by the most recent 25-hydroxycholecalciferol <20ng/ml or 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol <18pg/ml within 1 year before COVID-19 testing. Treatment was defined by the most recent vitamin D type and dose, and treatment changes between the time of the most recent vitamin D level and time of COVID-19 testing. Vitamin D deficiency and treatment changes were combined to categorize vitamin D status at the time of COVID-19 testing as likely deficient(lastlevel-deficient/treatment-not-increased), likely sufficient(last-level-not-deficient/treatmentnot-decreased), or uncertain deficiency(last-level-deficient/treatment-increased or last-levelnot-deficient/treatment-decreased).Main Outcomes and Measures: The main outcome was testing positive for COVID-19. Multivariable analysis tested whether the most recent vitamin D level and treatment changes after that level were associated with testing positive for COVID-19 controlling for demographic and comorbidity indicators. Bivariate analyses of associations of treatment with vitamin D deficiency and COVID-19 were performed.Results: Among 4,314 patients tested for COVID-19, 499 had a vitamin D level in the year before testing. Vitamin D status at the time of COVID-19 testing was categorized as likely deficient for 127(25%) patients, likely sufficient for 291(58%) patients, and uncertain for 81(16%) patients. In multivariate analysis, testing positive for COVID-19 was associated with increasing age(RR(age<50)=1.05,p<0.021;RR(age≥50)=1.02,p<0.064)), non-white race(RR=2.54,p<0.01) and being likely vitamin D deficient (deficient/treatment-not-increased:RR=1.77,p<0.02) as compared to likely vitamin D sufficient(not-deficient/treatment-not-decreased), with predicted All rights reserved. No reuse allowed without permission.

show abstract

Evidence that Vitamin D Supplementation Could Reduce Risk of Influenza and COVID-19 Infections and Deaths

Cited by 1,576 publications

References 155 publications

COVID-19 transmission risk factors

COVID-19 transmission risk factors

ENDOCRINOLOGY IN THE TIME OF COVID-19: Management of calcium metabolic disorders and osteoporosis

Association of Vitamin D Deficiency and Treatment with COVID-19 Incidence

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About