JMIR Infodemiology 2022;2(1):e32452 doi:10.2196/32452
Preprints of this paper are available at https://preprints.jmir.org/preprint/32452, first published July 28, 2021.
Emma K Quinn 1, 2 e ; Shelby Fenton 2, 3 e ; Chelsea A Ford-Sahibzada 2, 3, 4 e ; Andrew Harper 3 e ; Alessandro R Marcon 5 e ; Timothy Caulfield 5, 6 e ; Sajjad S Fazel 2, 3, 7 e ; Cheryl E Peters 2, 3, 4, 7 e
Background:
The “infodemic” accompanying the SARS-CoV-2 virus pandemic has the potential to increase avoidable spread as well as engagement in risky health behaviors. Although social media platforms, such as YouTube, can be an inexpensive and effective method of sharing accurate health information, inaccurate and misleading information shared on YouTube can be dangerous for viewers. The confusing nature of data and claims surrounding the benefits of vitamin D, particularly in the prevention or cure of COVID-19, influences both viewers and the general “immune boosting” commercial interest.
Objective:
The aim of this study was to ascertain how information on vitamin D and COVID-19 was presented on YouTube in 2020.
Methods:
YouTube video results for the search terms “COVID,” “coronavirus,” and “vitamin D” were collected and analyzed for content themes and deemed useful or misleading based on the accuracy or inaccuracy of the content. Qualitative content analysis and simple statistical analysis were used to determine the prevalence and frequency of concerning content, such as confusing correlation with causation regarding vitamin D benefits.
Results:
In total, 77 videos with a combined 10,225,763 views (at the time of data collection) were included in the analysis, with over three-quarters of them containing misleading content about COVID-19 and vitamin D. In addition, 45 (58%) of the 77 videos confused the relationship between vitamin D and COVID-19, with 46 (85%) of 54 videos stating that vitamin D has preventative or curative abilities. The major contributors to these videos were medical professionals with YouTube accounts. Vitamin D recommendations that do not align with the current literature were frequently suggested, including taking supplementation higher than the recommended safe dosage or seeking intentional solar UV radiation exposure.
Conclusions:
The spread of misinformation is particularly alarming when spread by medical professionals, and existing data suggesting vitamin D has immune-boosting abilities can add to viewer confusion or mistrust in health information. Further, the suggestions made in the videos may increase the risks of other poor health outcomes, such as skin cancer from solar UV radiation.
Download the PDF from Vitamin D Life
Since Dec 2020 - many YouTubes on Vitamin D & COVID have been based on data
Vitamin D Life pages with TRANSCRIPT in title
This list is automatically updated
Items found: 33
| Title | | Modified |
| Boost Your Immune System, Fight Viruses - Medcram with transcript - Oct 29, 2021 | | 15 Apr, 2022 |
| Wonders of Vitamin D - Renu Mahtani video and transcription - Feb 2022 | | 12 Mar, 2022 |
| Vitamin D Life interview and transcript - Jan 2022 | | 01 Mar, 2022 |
| Cluster Headaches treated by high-dose Vitamin D, etc. (interview and transcript) - Feb 2022 | | 23 Feb, 2022 |
| Interview of doctor who got patients to 80 ng of vitamin D (with transcript) - Jan 3, 2022 | | 06 Jan, 2022 |
| Vitamin D and COVID - Davies, Benskin (Dark Horse video with transcript) - Dec 27, 2021 | | 29 Dec, 2021 |
| PhD working at VAERS on problems with vacc system - Masterjohn interview and transcript- Dec 27, 2021 | | 27 Dec, 2021 |
| Dr. McCullough on COVID-19: vaccine problems, home treatment – video, slides, transcript – Oct and Dec 2021 | | 22 Dec, 2021 |
| Vitamin D and a Dr. in Israel - Campbell video and transcript - Dec 11, 2021 | | 13 Dec, 2021 |
| Omega-3 decreases heart disease and COVID: Harris and Patrick, video and transcript - Dec 2021 | | 07 Dec, 2021 |
| Vitamin D probably has a Role in Cancer, CVD, and COVID - video and transcript Dec 1, 2021 | | 02 Dec, 2021 |
| Discussion of COVID and 50 ng of Vitamin D (video and transcript)– Dr. Campbell Nov 17, 2021 | | 19 Nov, 2021 |
| End of Alzheimer's video and transcript - Oct 2021 | | 09 Nov, 2021 |
| Vitamin D and Health video with transcript - Dr. Grant Sept 2021 | | 11 Sep, 2021 |
| In-home testing of viral load, etc. Dr. Topol interview with transcript – Aug 11, 2021 | | 14 Aug, 2021 |
| Your Brain on Covid-19 Long-Haul, Dr. Galland video and transcript - Aug 1, 2021 | | 07 Aug, 2021 |
| COVID-19 doctors not allowed to use treatments that work - Dr McCullough Video and transcript May 2021 | | 11 Jul, 2021 |
| Problems with vaccine use during a pandemic - Dr. Bossche interview with transcript - April 22, 2021 | | 28 May, 2021 |
| Vitamin D fights many health symptoms, including COVID-19: Dr. Mahtani video and transcript - April 2021 | | 23 Apr, 2021 |
| Vitamin D, COVID - Campbell and Davis (Video with transcript) - Jan 18, 2021 | | 21 Apr, 2021 |
| Autoimmune and high-dose vitamin D (Dr. Coimbra) - Dr. Mahtani video and transcript - Nov 2020 | | 11 Apr, 2021 |
| The Health Benefits of Vitamin D and Solar UVB (video and transcript) - March 2021 | | 27 Mar, 2021 |
| COVID public health messages 1, 2, and 3 should be - vitamin d vitamin d, vitamin d (video and transcript) - Mar 5, 2021 | | 16 Mar, 2021 |
| Vitamin D Help Us Fight Infections - interview of Dr. Thakkar (transcript) Jan 20, 2021 | | 24 Jan, 2021 |
| COVID-19 Vitamin D: Overview by Dr. in Sri Lanka (Video and transcript) - Dec 8, 2020 | | 26 Dec, 2020 |
| COVID-19 Vitamin D: Overview of Evidence by Dr. Seheult (Video and transcript) - Dec 10, 2020 | | 14 Dec, 2020 |
| Vitamin D Toxicity - an unmerited fear - Renu Mahtani video and transcription - Oct 2020 | | 10 Oct, 2020 |
| Dr. Coimbra on Coronavirus and Vitamin D (English transcript) - Jan 2020 | | 31 Jan, 2020 |
| Dr. Sears podcast with Carole Baggerly about Vitamin D (with transcript) - July 2019 | | 05 Jul, 2019 |
| Vitamin D, trauma, and blacks - Dr. Matthews interview with transcript - Jan 2019 | | 15 May, 2019 |
| Sleep, Vitamin D, B Vitamins, jaw, etc. Dr. Gominak transcript - 2016 | | 31 Jan, 2019 |
| History of Dr. Cannell and Vitamin D Council - Podcast with transcript - Dec 2014 | | 05 Dec, 2014 |
| Vitamin D and bone health - Univ of Maryland video and transcript May 2010 | | 02 Jul, 2010 |