COVID 19 Recent Research – Vitamin D Helps fight Corona?

COVID19 has taken over the world. It has been impartial in wreaking havoc upon developed nations with good healthcare infrastructure and the developing nations where healthcare service is not very advanced. While there is no vaccine to prevent it or a specific drug to cure it, recent studies have shown that vitamin D may play a role in preventing a cytokine storm and reduce the severity of the disease.

What is a cytokine storm?

Any infection in the body triggers an immune response. The body releases biological chemicals called cytokines to promote this response. In some patients, this release is uncontrolled leading to excessive release of cytokines, which is called cytokine storm.

A cytokine storm induces inflammation on a massive scale in the part of the body concerned. The inflammation is more dangerous than the disease itself. In fact, it can be so serious that it may be fatal. In some patients, COVID19 triggers a cytokine storm, which damages organs leading to multi-organ failure.

Does Vitamin D reduce the chances of cytokine storm?

COVID19 is a new disease and research is ongoing to decode it. A few recent studies across the globe have discovered certain startling facts.

• Low levels of vitamin D was common in patients with the most severe COVID19
• Countries with greater death rates had large number of patients with low levels of vitamin D

The studies are recent and have not been peer reviewed, but experts are of the opinion that people with normal healthy levels of vitamin D may have a better chance of survival as it may inhibit the occurrence of cytokine storm.

Other benefits of vitamin D:

Vitamin D provides many proven benefits. It reduces inflammation, modulates cell growth, and helps maintain bone health.

In conclusion, while it is too early to definitely prove that vitamin D controls severe COVID19, it has various other health benefits. We can say with confidence it causes no harm and so ensuring healthy levels of vitamin D will keep us healthy.

So why wait to get a healthy level of vitamin D, which is readily available in sunlight. If it prevents severe COVD19 and gives you a fighting chance, then it will be an additional and welcome benefit.