Vitamin D and Its Effects on Coronavirus Severity

As COVID-19 rises around the nation, many continue to seek ways to build immunity. Can vitamin D help decrease severity of symptoms?

The virus known as COVID-19, or the coronavirus, has ripped through the world in just one year and many places are currently seeing the largest rates of infection since the beginning of the pandemic. As doctors and researchers learn more about the disease and its effects, there are also many studies being conducted and under review regarding immunity boosting nutrients or vitamins. Limited studies have been produced but some are linking benefits of vitamin D to coronavirus severity.

Benefits of Vitamin D

Vitamin D is an important nutrient the human body needs to function in a healthy way. According to Medical News Today, “Vitamin D is essential for several reasons, including maintaining healthy bones and teeth. It may also protect against a range of diseases and conditions, such as type 1 diabetes. Despite its name, vitamin D is not a vitamin, but a prohormone, or precursor of a hormone. Vitamins are nutrients that the body cannot create, and so a person must consume them in the diet. However, the body can produce vitamin D”. Vitamin D can also help boost immunity and help in fighting disease. Vitamin D can be absorbed through the skin when a person gets adequate sunlight, approximately 10-15 minutes a day. Many people, especially those in colder climates and long winters, are at risk for vitamin D deficiency as they do not get out in the sunlight enough in the cold months. Likewise, those who work indoors or work night shifts are also at risk for having too little vitamin D in their body. General recommendations for vitamin D dosage for children and adults is 600 IU, or 15 mcg. Those who do not get enough or close to recommended doses are at a greater risk in general for infection or disease. (retrieved from Medical News Today).

Vitamin D and Coronavirus

Several studies have been conducted over the past year regarding the supplementation of vitamin D and it’s correlation to coronavirus severity. According to Healthline, recent scientific research has concluded that vitamin D supplementation might protect against respiratory infections, especially in people who were already deficient in vitamin D to begin with. Keeping sufficient vitamin D levels in the body has been shown to potentially help aid in preventing serious complications or fatalities. Furthermore, Medical News reports that studies showed a reduction in effects of the cytokine storm, which is the escalated inflammatory response that occurs in some individuals with the coronavirus. “Additional data suggests that vitamin D may reduce some of the unfavorable downstream immunological responses to COVID-19 that are associated with severe manifestations through the disease. Some of these downstream pathways that vitamin D may be involved in include preventing the rise of interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels and delaying the interferon-gamma response”. (retrieved from Medical News). The Mayo Clinic also reports similar findings, showing that of those who had serious complications, vitamin D showed to help. In a small, randomized study of 50 participants given a high dose of a type of vitamin D (calcifediol), only one needed to be treated in the ICU. They had 26 patients who were not given the vitamin D, and 13 of the 26 participants needed to be treated in the ICU (retrieved from The Mayo Clinic).

Conclusion

Although supplementation with vitamin D is not proven to either prevent or treat the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), there have been a number of positive findings that support vitamin D as a helpful immune boosting nutrient. These findings are in line with what has been supportive evidence in favor of vitamin D and its immune support against other viruses and infections. Most people can benefit from vitamin D supplementation and from eating immune boosting foods. To see our blog on best foods to boost immunity, click here. The best ways to prevent contracting the novel coronavirus remain social distancing, avoiding indoor gatherings, wearing a mask when in public and washing hands regularly. Eating a healthy diet and making sure that the body is getting the daily recommendations of nutrients can help boost immunity and keep the body strong no matter what type of illness or infection.

As we reach almost one year of dealing with the COVID-19 virus worldwide, many people are beginning to experience pandemic fatigue. But the results of such fatigue can be devastating.

Pandemic Fatigue: What It Is and How It Is Affecting People Around The World

The COVID-19 pandemic has certainly reshaped this past year for people all around the world. It has wreaked havoc in governments, households, stock markets, small businesses and even relationships. Not much of regular life looks the same as it did a year ago. Now that an entire year has almost passed, many people are reaching a point of frustration with having to alter so much of their lives. Experts are calling this “pandemic fatigue”. According to WDG Public Health, “‘Pandemic fatigue’ can occur when people get tired of the pandemic measures and become less likely to follow public health practices or simply begin to drown out those messages. A natural sense of burnout can happen since we’ve had to stick to these public health measures for such a prolonged period of time. Pandemic fatigue can be experienced differently for everyone but often presents itself as feeling restless, irritable, lacking motivation, and difficulty concentrating on tasks”. The effects of pandemic fatigue can vary in severity based on many factors-age, marital/relationship status, socioeconomic status, race and gender. Some research has shown youth and young adults suffering the most, as they are still establishing themselves and their relationships. Without the ability to socialize in person and enjoy being in public, many are growing weary and lonely. With the lower risk of complications or death, many youth also find it hard to continue staying apart and are not continuing to maintain the social distancing/stay at home suggestions from many health officials.

This level of fatigue and the symptoms it causes can have many health implications. First and foremost, the lack of motivation is extremely detrimental to those trying to lose weight or get healthy. It is hard enough to maintain a long term intrinsic/internal drive to workout or stay moving in a work out program, let alone during a year-long global pandemic. Many Americans who lost their motivation a few months into 2020 have found it hard to get back on track with their fitness activities. Another health side effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting pandemic fatigue is stress and restlessness. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that stress during an infectious disease outbreak can sometimes lead to the following:

Fear and worry about personal health, loved ones, job loss, finances, etc

Changes in sleep or eating patterns

Difficulty concentrating

Worsening of previous chronic health problems

Worsening of mental health conditions

Increased substance abuse (drugs, tobacco, alcohol, etc)

The longer that the world is dealing with this pandemic, the more fatigue and related symptoms will increase. Another concern health officials have with pandemic fatigue is that the general population will begin to relax on following health guidelines, and many areas around the world are already seeing this trend. With the holidays on the horizon, many family and social gatherings could lead to a large spike worldwide. The holidays are usually considered a happy time, where friends and families gather together, share meals and spend much of their time indoors. During a global pandemic, these behaviors are highly discouraged due to the increased risk of gathering together with many people. Due to pandemic fatigue, many Americans are choosing to continue their holiday rituals and traveling to be together. Many airlines report strong bookings over the holidays despite the encouragement to stay home. With families choosing to fly, some gathering from many different parts of the country, health officials are all very nervous there will be spikes all over the country.

If you are feeling any of these symptoms, rest assured you are not alone. Many, if not all, have identified with one or more of the pandemic fatigue symptoms at some point through the year. It is important-for your health and those around you-to continue following safety measures. Wearing masks in public, staying home whenever possible, minimizing parties and social gatherings and extra hand washing will all help in the fight against COVID-19. Hopefully we will see an end in sight, but in the meantime we will get through it. People are resilient and strong in nature and with a little patience can conquer any mountain, no matter how big.