Vitamin D protects against COVID-19 infection and improves the outcomes

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Every other day, scientists and doctors are uncovering new facts about the novel coronavirus. The pandemic has affected everyone in different ways- financially, health-wise and psychologically too. And we are all living in fear! Healthcare professionals and common people alike are doing everything they can to improve immunity in the hopes of reducing the case count of COVID-19 until a 100% cure is ready. In this context, some researchers have found a surprising link between Vitamin D and coronavirus. We have always known that Vitamin D is one of the most important nutrients and crucial for our bone and teeth health and can regulate phosphorus levels in the blood.

Read on to understand where Vitamin D features in the fight against COVID-19.

COVID-19 is caused by a coronavirus (a specific type of virus) called SARS-CoV-2. Infection of COVID-19 begins when the SARS-CoV-2 virus enters the cells of the lung and the spike protein of the virus binds to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2) receptor and de-activating it, resulting in inflammation due to the overaccumulation of angiotensin II which is responsible for inflammation and bronchoconstriction and lead to ARDS (Acute respiratory distress syndrome) of COVID-19. 1

Lung inflammation is the main cause of life-threatening respiratory disorders at the severe stage of COVID-19 infection, characterized by the so-called “cytokine storm”. 2

The cytokine storm results from a sudden acute increase in circulating levels of different pro-inflammatory cytokines including IL-6, IL-1, TNF- a, and interferon produced mostly by T cells, trigger more immune cell involvement and tissue damage that leads to acute respiratory distress, multiple organ failure and possibly death.^1,2,3

The key to fighting COVID-19 and this harmful inflammatory response resides in ³:

• Angiotensin II: our target to reduce it.
• ACE2 (angiotensin-converting enzyme 2): our target to increase it.
• Spike protein: our target to nullify it.
• Contrasting the exacerbation of the inflammatory response and dampening the cytokine storm.

Vitamin D is used by every cell of the body, influences the expression of thousands of genes, and is involved in regulating over 80 biological pathways – importantly, vitamin D is a potent regulator of immune function.

How vitamin D helps to protect against COVID-19 infection and improve outcomes:

− Vitamin D suppress renin production through its nuclear receptor VDR (reduces the expression of the gen for renin) that lead to suppress al the pathway and lead to Angiotensin II suppression. ⁴

− Vitamin D is responsible for increasing ACE-2 expression(upregulate) at genetic level, which allows it to carry out its anti-inflammatory actions to help protect the lungs against the development of ALI (acute lung injury) and keep inflammation at bay. ⁵

− Vitamin D has natural antiviral action (anti S protein) as it boosts the production of natural host defense mechanism (First line of defense) cathelicidins and defensins, components of the innate immune response with anti-microbial and immuno-modulatory capabilities. they have been shown to be natural, broad spectrum direct anti-viral agents against both enveloped and non-enveloped viruses. ⁶

− Beside the innate immunity Vitamin D also enhances cellular immunity, in part by reducing the cytokine storm induced by the innate immune system, by reduces the expression of pro-inflammatory Th1 cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor α and interferon γ and increases the expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines by macrophages.

− Also, Vitamin D is a modulator of adaptive immunity suppresses responses mediated by the T helper cell type 1 (Th1), furthermore, promotes induction of the T regulatory cells, thereby inhibiting inflammatory processes. ⁷

− Vitamin D also acts to regulate the maturation of dendritic cells which are important for activating CD4+ T cells and in turn the rest of the immune response.

− Vitamin D acts to suppress the production of inflammatory cytokines (such as IL-1, IL-6 and IFN which are predominant in the cytokine storm characteristic of severe COVID-19).

If you don’t take supplement today, you will be needing medicines tomorrow so give your immune system the nutrients it needs to support a healthy you and protect yourself from unnecessary diseases, especially COVID-19.

The Target of Vitamin D level should be 40-60 ng/ml (100-150 nmol/L) blood levels for all population would provide optimal health benefits, prevent diseases and reduce health care costs and have a dramatic impact on overall health worldwide8,

And this will happen by the daily supplementation of Vitamin D at least 10,000 IU / day for adults and this reduces acute viral respiratory tract infections, and it classified by the EFSA No Observed Adverse Effect Level (NOAEL). 8,9,10,11

For treatment of Vitamin D deficiency 50,000 IU oral vitamin D once a week for 3 months followed by maintenance of half the dose 50,000 IU once in 15 days always. ¹²

As per the Canadian Family Physician Publication¹³ In those patients who do have influenza or contacted with suspected infected people or in the beginning of infection, or even during travelling they should follow immediate protection target – 40-60 ng/ml blood levels called “Vitamin D hammer protocol”.

Authors conclude that “The results are dramatic, with complete resolution of symptoms in 48 to 72 hours. One-time doses of vitamin D at this level have been used safely and have never been shown to be toxic”. ¹³

Oral Vitamin D hammer protocol for adults: 50,000 IU daily for 2-3 days, then followed by maintenance 50,000 IU once in 15 days always. ¹³

Oral Vitamin D hammer protocol for children: 100 IU / kg /day (at least), Infants 1200 IU daily, 1 to 10 years 2000 IU/day, 11 to 17 years 4000 IU/day for 2-3 days, then followed by maintenance dose. All these doses are classified by the EFSA NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level). ¹⁰

2020 clinical trial published in PMJ ¹⁴ shows that Vitamin D hammer protocol (high-dose cholecalciferol supplementation) turning greater proportion of individuals with COVID-19 infection to COVID-19 RNA negative with a significant decrease in fibrinogen after 3 weeks compared to those who did not receive any vitamin D.

In the document authors analyse this strongly indicates that supplementing with vitamin D to reach a serum level of at least 50 ng/ml (125 nmol/L) among asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic COVID-19 positive individuals provides a much greater chance of testing negative compared to those who are vitamin D deficient. ¹⁴

European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences published “a highly cost-effective therapy for COVID-19” as defined by authors, which consist of using of high-dose oral vitamin D during COVID-19 to reduce the risks of contracting the disease, and if disease is experienced, to reduce the severity and mortality, and thereby speed recovery. ¹⁵

Authors suggested for people feeling unhealthy, who have a fever, or who have been exposed to an infected person, might benefit from taking a loading dose of vitamin D of between 200,000 (four 50,000 IU tablets) or 300,000 international units (IU) as a single oral dose, to strengthen the immune system reduce the risk and severity of COVID-19. This can be repeated after one week. This would allow strengthening of the immune and other body systems within 3 to 5 days of administration. ¹⁵

In this context it is highly important to highlighting that Ditamin BabyVit and AdulVit D are ensuring optimal levels of vitamin D which is an easy way to help support your immune system both innate and adaptive responses as Ditamin is just pure FDA, GMP standard Vitamin D3 without any artificial additives it’s tasteless, colorless and odorless.

Ditamin AdulVit 50,000 IU is the smallest pill worldwide ever, we made it smaller and easier because your compliance matters.

References:

1. Journal of Virology-2018-Milewska-e01933-17.
2. Nature Publishing Group 41586-2003-Article.
3. Antioxidants 2020, 9, 624; doi:10.3390.
4. Genome Research A ChIP-seq defined genome-wide map of vitamin D receptor binding Associations with disease and evolution.
5. Chinese Journal of Emergency Medicine. Effect of Vitamin D on ACE2 and Vitamin D receptor expression in rats with LPS-induced acute lung injury.
6. nutrients-07-04240 Modulation of the Immune Response to Respiratory Viruses by Vit D.
7. Nutrients 2020, 12, 988 Evidence that Vitamin D Supplementation Could Reduce Risk of Influenza and COVID-19 Infections and Deaths.
8. J Prev Med Public Health 2017;50:278-281 The Big Vitamin D Mistake.
9. BMJ-Vitamin D3 supplementation in patients with frequent respiratory tract infections a randomised and double-blind intervention study.
10. EFSA Journal 2012;10(7):2813.
11. Children 2014, 1, 208-226.
12. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 112(16) July 2020- A call for action Standard of care guidelines to assess vitamin D status are needed for patients with hip fracture.
13. Canadian Family Physician 0610507- vitamin D for influenza.
14. BMJ 2020-139065 -Short term, high-dose vitamin D supplementation for COVID-19 disease a randomised, placebo-controlled, study (SHADE study).
15. European Journal of Biomedical AND Pharmaceutical sciences 2020, Volume 7, Issue 3, 432-438.