ISLAMABAD: A new international study says that a good amount of Vitamin D in the body before COVID-19 infection can prevent severe disease and death.
A team from Trinity College in Ireland, the University of Edinburgh in Scotland and Zhejiang University in China for the first time looked at both genetically predicted and vitamin D levels as predicted by ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation key for vitamin D production in the skin.
When comparing the two variables, researchers found that correlation with measured vitamin D concentration in the circulation was three-fold stronger for UVB-predicted vitamin D level, compared to genetically-predicted, Medical Daily reported .
The paper, published in the journal Scientific Reports, suggests that vitamin D may protect against severe Covid-19 disease and death.
“Our study supports the recommendation of vitamin D supplementation for not only the maintenance of bone and muscle health during the lockdown but also the potential benefits in relation to protection from Covid-19, ” said Dr Xue Li, a researcher on the study from Zhejiang.
“Conducting a properly designed Covid-19 randomized controlled trial of vitamin D supplementation is critical. Until then, given that vitamin D supplements are safe and cheap, it is definitely advisable to take supplements and protect against vitamin D deficiency, ” added Professor Lina Zgaga, Associate Professor in epidemiology, at Trinity’s School of Medicine.
Further, ambient UVB radiation at an individual’s place of residence preceding Covid-19 infection was found to be strongly and inversely associated with hospitalization and death.
Previous studies have linked vitamin D deficiency with increased susceptibility to viral and bacterial respiratory infections. Similarly, several observational studies found a strong correlation between vitamin D deficiency and Covid-19.