After the publication of numerous studies pointing to the protective effect of vitamin D against severe forms of Covid-19, several experts are calling for its prescription as a prevention tool.
- Vitamin D would prevent the cytokine storm, responsible for severe forms of Covid-19.
- Experts call for prescribing vitamin D to prevent serious forms, especially in the elderly and at risk.
- A study is underway on the effects of vitamin D on mortality in the context of Covid-19.
More than 80% of patients hospitalized with Covid-19 have a vitamin D deficiency. The study published on October 27 in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism who advances this figure adds that patients who have received vitamin D supplements are less likely to develop serious forms of the disease and end up in intensive care. In addition, vitamin D would prevent the cytokine storm, responsible for severe forms of Covid-19. An effect confirmed by the National Academy of Medicine on May 22 in a press release. The latter highlighted the benefits of vitamin D “in the regulation and suppression of the cytokine inflammatory response at the origin of the acute respiratory distress syndrome which characterizes the severe and often lethal forms of Covid-19”.
“One more weapon against the Covid”
These benefits of vitamin D led a panel of 73 French-speaking experts to launch an appeal to prescribe this supplement to the population and in particular the elderly and at risk. This preventive prescription aims to reduce serious forms of infection with the virus. Specifically, vitamin D is a steroid hormone whose action goes well beyond calcium metabolism. It is used to regulate protein synthesis, and in particular the ACE2 receptor, which is the target that allows SARS-Cov-2 to enter cells. It would thus be able to act on the white blood cells and limit the cytokine storm that characterizes the most severe cases. Effects also confirmed by a Norwegian study where researchers rely on cod liver oil, rich in vitamin D, to limit the serious effects of Covid-19 infection.
“It can be one more weapon against the Covid, it would be a shame to do without itabstract at France Inter Professor Cédric Annweiler, head of the geriatrics department at the CHU d’Angers, who initiated the call. French studies have shown that in the elderly, those who regularly receive vitamin D supplements have a 90% lower risk of having a severe form. if they contract the infection. Given the situation of the epidemic, even if it does not replace vaccines or barrier gestures, it would be a shame to deprive yourself of this additional weapon..”
Ongoing research on vitamin D
Vitamin D has many benefits for our body. It protects our bones, our cells, our muscles, our cardiovascular system and our immune system. Vitamin D is found in several foods such as salmon, tuna, cod liver oil, milk and eggs. It is synthesized thanks to ultraviolet B from the sun and is often found in deficiency in winter in individuals. Half of the population is estimated to be deficient in vitamin D, a figure that rises to 80-90% in the elderly.
Professor Cédric Annweiler said he launched a study, called CoviT-trial, which tests the effectiveness of a very high dose of vitamin D, given as soon as the diagnosis is made, in elderly people who have contracted the infection to reduce deaths . Ten hospitals are participating in the trial, which includes 260 patients. The results of this study classified as “national research priority” by the government are expected in the coming weeks.
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