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As COVID-19 rises around the nation, many continue to seek ways to build immunity.\u00a0 Can vitamin D help decrease severity of symptoms?<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

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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.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 Limited studies have been produced but some are linking benefits of vitamin D to coronavirus severity.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Benefits of Vitamin D\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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Vitamin D is an important nutrient the human body needs to function in a healthy way.\u00a0 According to Medical News Today<\/a>, \u201cVitamin 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\u201d.\u00a0 Vitamin D can also help boost immunity and help in fighting disease.\u00a0 Vitamin D can be absorbed through the skin when a person gets adequate sunlight, approximately 10-15 minutes a day.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 Likewise, those who work indoors or work night shifts are also at risk for having too little vitamin D in their body.\u00a0 General recommendations for vitamin D dosage for children and adults is 600 IU, or 15 mcg.\u00a0 Those who do not get enough or close to recommended doses are at a greater risk in general for infection or disease.\u00a0 (retrieved from <\/em>Medical News Today<\/em><\/a>).\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Vitamin D and Coronavirus<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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Several studies have been conducted over the past year regarding the supplementation of vitamin D and it\u2019s correlation to coronavirus severity.\u00a0\u00a0According to Healthline<\/a>, 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.\u00a0 Keeping sufficient vitamin D levels in the body has been shown to potentially help aid in preventing serious complications or fatalities.\u00a0 Furthermore, Medical News<\/a> 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. \u201cAdditional 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\u201d. (retrieved from <\/em>Medical News<\/em><\/a>).\u00a0 The Mayo Clinic<\/a> also reports similar findings, showing that of those who had serious complications, vitamin D showed to help.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 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 <\/em>The Mayo Clinic<\/em><\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Conclusion<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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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.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 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<\/a>.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 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.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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