Vitamin D reduces mortality, ICU admission rates in COVID patients: Study

As COVID-19 continues to wreak havoc in our lives, we are yet not close to any sure shot remedy or therapy to treat the infection. 

Accordingly, multiple existing drugs, which include those of arthritis and malaria, have been repurposed for the treatment, or we should say management of COVID-19. Amid these developments, the role of Vitamin D consumption in coronavirus patients to help better manage the inflammation has been put under scrutiny several times.

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While some studies downplay the role of Vitamin D in context to coronavirus infection, some found it to be effective against COVID. Amidst the claims, another meta-analysis conducted by PGI doctors found that Vitamin D can have a satisfactory impact in clinical improvements of critical COVID patients.

Here is what the study says.

The analysis that pooled data from 13 studies and 2,933 COVID patients has shown that Vitamin D supplemented after the corona infection diagnosis caused improvement in clinical outcomes. This includes a reduction in mortality or ICU admission rate.

The study was conducted by Dr Rimesh Pal, Dr Mainak Banerjee, Professor Sanjay K Bhadada, Dr Anirudh J Shetty, Dr Birgurman Singh and Dr Abhinav Vyas. The study was published in the Journal of Endocrinological Investigation.

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It’s tile is, “Vitamin D supplementation and clinical outcomes in Covid-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis.”

Should COVID patients take Vitamin D in high doses?

While the analysis proves that Vitamin D has positive implications in COVID-positive patients in terms of mortality and intensity of the infection that leads to ICU admissions, it also notes that this in no way can be interpreted to unfettered usage of the supplement.

This means, even though it helps, Vitamin D must not be taken without proper prescription by a medical practitioner or in high doses.

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Professor Bhadada added that when diagnosed with COVID-19, Vitamin D helped in better recovery of patients, but more than the prescribed standard dose can lead to toxicity and overzealous use of Vitamin D must be avoided

What is Vitamin D?

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, which is primarily related to bone and mineral metabolism. It is responsible for increasing intestinal absorption of calcium, magnesium, and phosphate, and many other biological effects. In humans, the most important compounds in this group are vitamin D₃ and vitamin D₂