Vitamin D levels may affect coronavirus mortality rates, study reveals
- Researchers say people with lower levels of vitamin D are more prone to get infected and die of novel coronavirus.
- Vitamin D not only enhances innate immune systems but it also prevents it from becoming dangerously overactive: Experts.
- Backman says vitamin D will not prevent a patient from contracting the virus, but it may reduce complications and prevent death in those who are infected.
(Karachi) Researchers have discovered that vitamin D levels might impact COVID-19 mortality rates, a new study claims.
According to the research, people with lower levels of vitamin D are more prone to get infected and die of novel coronavirus. Experts say there is a strong connection between vitamin D deficiency and mortality rates from the novel coronavirus.
The findings came to light when a research team headed by Northwestern University (NU) Bio-Medical Engineering Professor Vadim Backman analyzed data from different hospitals and clinics across China, France, Germany, Italy, Iran, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States.
During the course of study, it transpired that patients from countries with high COVID-19 mortality rates, such as Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom, had lower levels of vitamin D as compared to patients in countries that were not as severely affected.
The researchers revealed that vitamin D not only enhances innate immune systems but it also prevents it from becoming dangerously overactive. They are of the view that having healthy levels of vitamin D could protect patients against severe complications, including death, from the deadly disease.
They pointed out that release of cytokine storm syndromes in large numbers in a person's body can cause severe damage to lungs and lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome and death in patients. They mentioned that most coronavirus patients die of cytokine storm rather than the destruction of lungs and by the virus itself.
Professor Vadim Backman said that higher levels of vitamin D will not prevent a patient from contracting the virus, but it may reduce complications and prevent death in those who are infected.
He said the study will help a great deal to explain why children are less likely to die of the virus. "Children do not yet have a fully developed acquired immune system, which is the immune system's second line of defense and more likely to overreact."
Backman maintained, "It is hard to say which dose is most beneficial for COVID-1. However, it is clear that vitamin D deficiency is harmful, and it can be easily addressed with appropriate supplementation."
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