Vitamin D and Influenza—Prevention or Therapy?

Gruber-Bzura, Beata M

doi:10.3390/ijms19082419

Cited by 174 publications

(194 citation statements)

References 75 publications

(202 reference statements)

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“…Several reviews consider the ways in which vitamin D reduces the risk of viral infections [9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17]. Vitamin D has many mechanisms by which it reduces the risk of microbial infection and death.…”

Section: Vitamin D and Mechanisms To Reduce Microbial Infectionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The two most recent RCTs included participants with above average mean baseline 25(OH)D concentrations [55,56]. A comprehensive review of the role of vitamin D and influenza was published in 2018 [15]. It concluded that the evidence of vitamin D's effects on the immune system suggest that vitamin D should reduce the risk of influenza, but that more studies are required to evaluate that possibility.…”

Section: Seasonal Influenzamentioning

confidence: 99%

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

et al. 2020

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The world is in the grip of the COVID-19 pandemic. Public health measures that can reduce the risk of infection and death in addition to quarantines are desperately needed. This article reviews the roles of vitamin D in reducing the risk of respiratory tract infections, knowledge about the epidemiology of influenza and COVID-19, and how vitamin D supplementation might be a useful measure to reduce risk. Through several mechanisms, vitamin D can reduce risk of infections. Those mechanisms include inducing cathelicidins and defensins that can lower viral replication rates and reducing concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines that produce the inflammation that injures the lining of the lungs, leading to pneumonia, as well as increasing concentrations of anti-inflammatory cytokines. Several observational studies and clinical trials reported that vitamin D supplementation reduced the risk of influenza, whereas others did not. Evidence supporting the role of vitamin D in reducing risk of COVID-19 includes that the outbreak occurred in winter, a time when 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations are lowest; that the number of cases in the Southern Hemisphere near the end of summer are low; that vitamin D deficiency has been found to contribute to acute respiratory distress syndrome; and that case-fatality rates increase with age and with chronic disease comorbidity, both of which are associated with lower 25(OH)D concentration. To reduce the risk of infection, it is recommended that people at risk of influenza and/or COVID-19 consider taking 10,000 IU/d of vitamin D 3 for a few weeks to rapidly raise 25(OH)D concentrations, followed by 5000 IU/d. The goal should be to raise 25(OH)D concentrations above 40-60 ng/mL (100-150 nmol/L). For treatment of people who become infected with COVID-19, higher vitamin D 3 doses might be useful. Randomized controlled trials and large population studies should be conducted to evaluate these recommendations.

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Section: Vitamin D and Mechanisms To Reduce Microbial Infectionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Seasonal Influenzamentioning

confidence: 99%

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

et al. 2020

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“…However, randomized clinical trials have returned inconclusive, often controversial results. Therefore, it has been suggested that cholecalciferol at elevated doses might be useful for the prevention and therapy of infection with cOVId-19 (53,54).…”

Section: Pathogenesis Of Coronavirus Infectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A new threat from an old enemy: Re‑emergence of coronavirus (Review)

et al. 2020

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“…Previous studies have found mixed results when it comes to vitamin D and its impact on illness, specifically respiratory tract illnesses like influenza [10,[32][33][34]. The current landscape is dominated by smaller studies with specific populations, and is lacking in numerous, large-scale, randomized controlled trials (RCTs).…”

Section: Possible Antiviral Action Of Vitamin Dmentioning

confidence: 99%

Potential Role of Vitamin D in the Elderly to Resist COVID-19 and to Slow Progression of Parkinson’s Disease

2020

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While we are still learning more about COVID-19, caused by the novel SARS-CoV-2 virus, finding alternative and already available methods to reduce the risk and severity of the disease is paramount. One such option is vitamin D, in the form of vitamin D 3 (cholecalciferol) supplementation, due to its potential antiviral properties. It has become apparent that older individuals have a greater risk of developing severe COVID-19, and compared to younger adults, the elderly have lower levels of vitamin D due to a variety of biological and behavioral factors. Older adults are also more likely to be diagnosed with Parkinson's disease (PD), with advanced age being the single greatest risk factor. In addition to its immune-system-modulating effects, it has been suggested that vitamin D supplementation plays a role in slowing PD progression and improving PD-related quality of life. We completed a review of the literature to determine the relationship between vitamin D, PD, and COVID-19. We concluded that the daily supplementation of 2000-5000 IU/day of vitamin D 3 in older adults with PD has the potential to slow the progression of PD while also potentially offering additional protection against COVID-19.

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Vitamin D and Influenza—Prevention or Therapy?

Cited by 174 publications

References 75 publications

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

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

A new threat from an old enemy: Re‑emergence of coronavirus (Review)

Potential Role of Vitamin D in the Elderly to Resist COVID-19 and to Slow Progression of Parkinson’s Disease

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