15 studies indicating that Vitamin D fights COVID-19 - Dr. Grimes
A portion of Covid-19 & Vitamin D – summaries of evidence
1. Philippines
Association between blood level of vitamin D and outcome from Covid-19
30ng/ml 85% had mild disease, 15% had moderate, severe, or critical disease
<30ng/ml 5% had mild disease, 95% had moderate, severe, or critical disease
https://ssrn.com/abstract=3571484 or https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3571484
Critical COVID-19 was 19X more likely if low vitamin D – April 15, 2020. (The authenticity of this study is disputed)
2. Indonesia
Survival associated with blood level of vitamin D
30ng.ml 96% survival
<30ng/ml 12% survived
<20ng.ml 1% survived
https://emerginnova.com/patterns-of-covid19-mortality-and-vitamin-d-an-indonesian-study/
3. India
Severity of disease associated with blood level of vitamin D
30ng/ml 62% severe disease
<30ng/ml 85% severe disease
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7276229/
4. Singapore
Vitamin D + vitamin B12 + Magnesium treatment.
26 Controls: 16 required oxygen therapy. 16 ITU admissions
17 Treated: 3 required oxygen therapy. No ITU admissions
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.06.01.20112334v1.full.pdf
5. Germany, Saarland
Respiratory disease fatalities associated with blood level of vitamin D. Ages 50–75 years.
Vitamin D <12ng/ml = 21% deaths
Vitamin D 12–20ng/ml = 13.7% deaths
Vitamin D >20ng/ml = 9.4% deaths
In this group, the incidence of respiratory deaths (not Covid-19) was twice as high in those with lowest vitamin D.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7468980/
6. Newcastle upon Tyne
Severity of Covid-19 (need for ICU treatment) and blood levels of vitamin D.
ITU compared to medical ward for Covid-19 treatment
ITU patients had lower blood levels of vitamin D.
Also tended to be younger
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.06.21.20136903v1
7. Spain (Córdoba)
Randomised Controlled Trial, using Calcidiol, 25(OH)D, part-activated vitamin D.
Admissions to hospital with Covid-19 pneumonia
27 Controls:
13 (50%) needed intensive care
2 (8%) died
50 treated with vitamin D
1 (2%) needed intensive care
no deaths
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960076020302764
8. Bari
Mortality from Covid-19 as predicted by blood levels of vitamin D.
81% had bood vitamin D <30ng/ml
=> 30ng/ml 5% died
<10ng/ml 50% died
http://www.societaitalianadiendocrinologia.it/public/pdf/hypovitaminosisdcovid19.pdf
9. Chicago
Risk of Covid-19 infection predicted by blood level of vitamin D
Vitamin D deficient = 21.6%
Vitamin D suficient = 12.2%
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2770157
10. Israel
Risk of Covid-19 infection predicted by blood level of vitamin D.
Vitamin D <30ng/ml = 28.6%
Vitamin D >30ng/ml = 14.2%
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.09.04.20188268v1.full.pdf
11. Iran
Mean vitamin D levels with Covid-19 infection and deaths.
Controls 30ng/ml
Covid-19 19ng/ml
Fatal Covid-19 8ng/ml
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7455115/
12. Heidelberg
Blood level of vitamin D predicting critical Covid-19 and deaths.
Vitamin D <12ng/ml
Hazard Ratio for invasive ventilation = 6.12 in those with lowest vitamin D levels
Hazard Ratio for death =14.73 in those with lowest vitamin D levels.
https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/9/2757
13. Boston
Blood level of vitamin D predicting Covid-19 infection.
191,779 people
Vitamin D levels known and Covid-19 infection documented
Lowest level of vitamin D 20ng/ml, 12% risk of Covid-19 infection
Highest level 50–60ng/ml, 6% risk
Good blood level of vitamin D reduces risk of Covid-19 infection by 50%
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0239252
14. Tehran / Boston
Blood level of vitamin D predicting severity of disease and death from Covid-19.
Vitamin D ≥ 30ng/ml 32.8%
Vitamin D < 30ng/ml. 67.2%
16.3% of 235 subjects died
Vitamin D ≥ 30ng/ml 9.7% of deaths
Vitamin D < 30ng/ml 90.3% of deaths
Deaths reduced by 80% in this with good blood levels of vitamin D
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0239799
15. Birmingham, UK
392 healthcare workers tested for Covid-19 and Vitamin D.
Vitamin D <12ng/ml (30nmol/L) in 61 (15.1%)
Vitamin D <12ng/ml 41 out of 61 (72%) developed Covid-19
Vitamin D =>12ng/ml 170 out of 331(51%) developed Covid-19
BAME
Vitamin D <12ng/ml 17 out of 18 (94%) developed Covid-19
Vitamin D =>12ng/ml 12 out of 23 (52%) developed Covid-19
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.10.05.20206706v1.full.pdf
16. Turkey
Association between blood vitamin D and severity of Covid-19.
149 Covid-19 patients. Mean vitamin D 15.2ng/ml
Severe/critical disease 102 (68.5%). 66.7% died. Mean vitamin D 10.1 ng/ml.
Moderate disease 47 (31.5%). 2.1% died. Mean vitamin D 26.3% ng/ml
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12603-020-1479-0
17. Indianapolis
Prediction of positive Covid-19 test based on blood vitamin D levels.
Vitamin D ≧ 20ng/ml: 317 people, 39 (12%) positive
Vitamin D < 20ng/ml: 172 people, 32 (19%) positive
A low level of vitamin D (<20ng/ml, 50nmol/L) predicted an increased (x1.77) risk of becoming Covid-19 positive.
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2770157
These studies that have appeared suggest not just that vitamin D is very important in the escalation of defensive immunity in response to infection, but also that the blood level of vitamin D is a good surrogate for the measure of immunity.
The studies indicate that a blood level of more than”30ng/ml (75nmol/L) is a level that indicates protection against serious or fatal Covid-19 infection. A target level of 40ng/ml (100nmol/L) would appear to be appropriate, and to achieve this vitamin D in a daily supplement of 4,000 units is effective, perfectly safe, and costs about £12 per year.
Interpretations
There are three dimensions to vitamin D in respect of Covid-19:
The importance of vitamin D as judged by its blood level and the association of vitamin D deficiency with unfavourable outcome and death.
The importance of vitamin D as judged by its blood value and its prediction of unfavourable outcome and death with vitamin D deficiency.
The favourable effect of giving a vitamin D supplement in the prevention of an unfavourable outcome.
In the above list there were:
8 association studies,
7 prediction studies
2 supplement studies (one randomised controlled)
COVID-19 treated by Vitamin D - studies, reports, videos
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Many clinical trials are underway which are testing Vitamin D to fight COVID-19
