Covid-19, Vitamin D, and UK Government policy - I had a dream
Dr David Grimes 8 MAY 2020
Consultant physician and gastroenterologist
Day 0 (early May 2020)
The scene:
10 Downing Street, London W1
The Press Room
The reporters are waiting, now on-line.
Enter three men, and stand behind their lecterns.
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Professor Chris Whitty, Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Sir Patrick Vallance |
Prime Minister, Boris Johnson (it is he, recovered)
This morning we have, er, some very good news for you all, in fact spectacular news, the very best that we have had for a long time. I will ask Chris Whitty to give more details.
Professor Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer
Thank you Prime Minister. The good news today is that we now have a new way to reduce dramatically serious illness and deaths from Covid-19. The way to do this is remarkably simple. We have heard a great deal about the development of vaccines to provide immunity, but it is unlikely that they will be available and tested for safety until the end of the year. In the meantime we have a great opportunity at hand today. It is vitamin D. It will boost our immunity and reduce deaths at a stroke.
Prime Minister
So there we are. I told you that we had really good news today, great news. Really great news. I will turn to Patrick to explain further.
Sir Patrick Vallance, Chief Scientist
Thank you Prime Minister. Vitamin D is not new. In fact it first appeared on the evolutionary scale 1.2 billion years ago, but its importance in immunity has been a feature for only the past 500 million years. The next bit is slightly technical. Vitamin D is created by the action of the sun on 7-dehydro-cholesterol and this is manufactured in our skin. It enters the blood stream and becomes activated in the liver and kidneys. It combines with what are called vitamin D receptors (VDRs) on the surface of target cells, like putting a plug in electrical socket. It then activates several genes, like switching on an electrical appliance once it is plugged in. The activated genes include those that enable the proliferation of the defensive immunity cells, such as T-lymphocytes and macrophages. This is an essential response to infection.
Prime Minister
I think I can just about understand that. Would you like to add anything Chris?
Chris Whitty
It was realised only recently, early in the 20th century, just before World War One, that vitamin D is actually important for immunity. At that time rickets was common in our industrial cities and this was shown to be due to shortage of vitamin D, the result of air pollution preventing the penetration of full intensity sunlight to ground level. It was noted that rickets and tuberculosis frequently co-existed within families. It is now clear from the experience of the AIDS epidemic in particular that tuberculosis becomes activated when immunity is suppressed. Vitamin D deficiency is another but much milder form of immunodeficiency.
Prime Minister
Do you mean that air pollution causes suppression of immunity and that is why it is bad for us?
Patrick Vallance
Yes, and we have seen that the pandemic of Covid-19 took hold in northern Italy, which has the greatest air pollution in Europe. I believe that vitamin D levels have been very low in Northern Italy and also in many parts of Spain, but the reason for this is not yet clear. Air pollution will also explain why the pandemic is causing more deaths in our inner cities than in rural areas.
Prime Minister
I think there is more evidence concerning the value of vitamin D in Covid-19.
Patrick Vallance
Yes. It is possible to measure the amount of vitamin D in the body by a simple blood test that has been available in all NHS hospitals for several years, and it is available in many countries in the world. It is important for the blood level of vitamin D to be greater than 30ng/ml, or 75nmol/L. Less than 10 is regarded as serious deficiency. An imaginative study has been reported from the Philippines by Professor Mark Alipiorrt, who unfortunately has been very ill with pneumonia, but I have the good news that he is now recovering. Vitamin D testing was undertaken in 212 patients with proven Covid-19 in three hospitals in south-east Asia.
Prime Minister
Chris, can you tell us the results?
Chris Whitty
The results are dramatic. Of the 55 patients with ideal blood levels of vitamin D, 47 had just mild disease. In 4 the disease was moderate, in 2 severe, and in 2 critical. But on the other hand, only 2 patients with low blood levels of vitamin D had mild disease, and in the other 155 patients the disease was moderate, severe or critical.
Prime Minister
Gosh! So there was a clear benefit form having a good blood level of vitamin D. I think there has been another study. Patrick.
Patrick Vallance
Yes Prime Minister. This was in Indonesia. As the pandemic started in the far East, there have been more opportunities for research. 780 patients with Covid-19 were tested for blood levels of vitamin D, and they were followed up to observe clinical outcome. Chris.
Chris Whitty
Almost half of the patients had low levels of vitamin D, and almost half of the patients died. Of the 380 with good levels of vitamin D, that is above 30, only 16 died. Of the 400 with low levels of vitamin D, almost all died.
Prime Minister
This is really amazing. Are there any other studies?
Chris Whitty
Yes. I have just received this morning a report from an imaginative Dr Gerry Schwalfenberg in Edmonton, Alberta, in Canada. He realised a little while ago that low blood vitamin D level is a bad thing and it is especially common in elderly people living in care homes. He looks after residents in a nursing home and so he gave them all vitamin D 2,000units each day by mouth and later he tested the blood levels. In 94% of the residents, the levels were above 32ng/ml (80nmol/L). Those whose blood levels remained low were given a higher dose of vitamin D
Prime Minister
Has that been of benefit to them?
Chris Whitty
Yes it has. Not a single resident of this nursing home has been ill with Covid-19, whereas there have been many cases in all the other neighbouring nursing homes
Prime Minister
That is even more really good news. Are there any more examples, Chris?
Chris Whitty
Yes. With exception of San Marino, Belgium has in Europe the highest number of Covid-19 deaths relative to population size. We have just this morning read a report from Belgium that vitamin D levels were much lower in the patients who died from Covid-19
Prime Minister
So we have a great opportunity to protect the wonderful and proud people of our great country, and defeat the most dangerous enemy that we have faced since the second world war. Patrick, what is the next step?
Patrick Vallance
We have these clinical studies and we have the basic science of the vital role of vitamin D in the process of immunity. We need to protect people by issuing them with vitamin D. There are two dosage regimes. The first is to use capsules or tablets of vitamin D. A dose of 2,000 units a day is usually adequate, but at this time of national emergency I would recommend 4,000 units a day. An alternative is to give a single dose of 100,000 units, in an oil which can be given by injection or by mouth. Its effect will last for about two months.
Prime Minister
Will this be expensive? Do we need to ask the permission of the Chancellor of the Exchequer?
Patrick Vallance
It is cheap. The single dose will cost about £1, and the 4,000 unit capsules will cost about £10 for a year’s supply. We obviously must multiply these numbers by the number of the UK population.
Prime Minister
That is even more good news. I am sure that our Chancellor of the Exchequer Rashi Sunak will be very pleased. Chris, do you have any comments?
Chris Whitty
It will take a little time for the public health departments in the UK to organise the distribution of vitamin D.
Prime Minister
But surely this is very urgent. People are still dying of Covid-19, about 500 each day.
Chris Whitty
Yes, but we need to prioritise distribution of vitamin D to those most at risk. This will obviously be health service workers, and then care workers, and then the residents of care homes.
Prime Minister
I think that I might have heard a suggestion that people of black African and Asian ethnicity might be at risk from Covid-19. Patrick, do you know if this might be true?
Patrick Vallance
I might have also have heard the suggestion that people of black African and Asian ethnicity might be at special risk. There is a view that they must all be rehoused as a matter of urgency, but that is a challenge that we cannot meet today. I am also given to understand from the newspapers, but I have not seen any official figures, that 26 doctors in the UK have died from Covid-19, and that 25 of them were of black African and Asian ethnicity. That is quite a coincidence. However it has been known for a long time that such people are almost all deficient in vitamin D as the result of dark skin and sun-avoiding behaviour.
Prime Minister
And so must they also have a priority for receiving vitamin D?
Sir Patrick Vallance
Yes, Prime Minister. But the more people who have priority, the more difficult the task of distribution.
Prime Minister
But if vitamin D is so urgent and so cheap might people want to buy their own supplies?
Chris Whitty
Yes Prime Minister, that is what I have done.
Sir Patrick Vallance
And so have I.
Prime Minister
I think I was given a vitamin D injection when I was in hospital.
Chris Whitty
That is probably why you recovered so well and so quickly when you were so close to death.
Prime Minister
Yes, and once again I would like to thank all the brave staff for the wonderful treatment and care that I was given. So, the vitamin D story seems to be straightforward. Are there any dissenting voices?
Patrick Vallance
There are a few. Notably the Oxford group, who are busy developing and testing a vaccine. They feel that vitamin D is an untested diversion from what they are doing.
Chris Whitty
And there are many who feel that social justice for the ethnic and socio-economically disadvantaged should have priority over vitamin D supplements.
Prime Minister
That is tricky. So I think we must go ahead with vitamin D immediately. Today at the latest. Are there any questions? Laura.
Laura Keuensberg (BBC)
Thank you all for this welcome news.
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Laura Keuensberg |
Could I please ask where vitamin D supplements come from and is there an adequate supply?
Prime Minister
Patrick, this is one for you.
Patrick Vallance
Thank you Laura. Most of the vitamin D supplements come from sheep’s wool, and some from fish oil. The oil from sheep’s wool must be processed to isolate 7-dehydro-cholesterol, and then this must be irradiated with UV light to convert it into vitamin D. A possible problem is that the great majority of this production takes place in China. The world annual production is uncertain, perhaps 7 tons, perhaps 97 metric tons. Most of it goes into animal feed, very important now that so many animals are kept indoors. The UK might require about 1 million tons or more, but I am told that Donald Trump has bought it all.
Prime Minister
Thank you Laura. Beth, you have a question.
Beth Rigby (Sky News)
You have mentioned the Oxford group who are inventing a
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Beth Rigby |
vaccine at this moment. I am told that they demand a randomised control trial to see if there is any truth in the idea that vitamin D might be helpful in Covid-19. Is such a trial underway in the UK?
Prime Minister
Patrick should be able to answer this one.
Patrick Vallance
I do not have a full picture of any research that is going on at present. Perhaps Chris would know more.
Chris Whitty
I do not know of any, but research that individual hospitals undertake is up to themselves. The information about vitamin D that I have is that common sense tells us how good it is, and that is why I take it. If we have a controlled trial, half the subjects will take vitamin D and half will take a placebo, a dummy tablet. I would not be happy for me or any of my family or friends (with an occasional exception) to take the placebo as it might put me or others at a high risk of death. Unless we keep the subjects in the dark (perhaps literally) I do not see any controlled trial taking place. In other words at this stage, to conduct a placebo controlled trial of vitamin D would not be ethical, and with informed consent it would not be possible. The weight of evidence indicating that vitamin D is helpful in preventing serious illness and death from Covid-19 is well beyond reasonable doubt, to use a legal expression. We know that vitamin D is safe, but we do not yet have this information about the Oxford Vaccine, which is not yet available.
Prime Minister
Thanks you Chris. That is very clear. Heather, you have a question.
Heather Stewart (Guardian)
We hear great deal about testing. How many people in the UK have had their blood vitamin D levels tested?
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Heather Stewart |
Prime Minister
Chris, can you answer this?
Chris Whitty
The short answer is that I have no idea. Hospitals do not inform the centre about the blood tests that they do.
Prime Minister
Thank you Heather. I think you have another question
Heather Stewart
Yes Prime Minister. Thank you. At the Guardian I am told that during the past month we have had a lot of letters about the value of vitamin D in the pandemic, mainly written by doctors. We published just one letter but we thought that the others must be from food-fad enthusiasts. Do you mean to say that they were all right in what they had written to us?
Prime Minister
Patrick, you might answer this.
Patrick Vallance
Well, Heather, it looks as though they were right.
Prime Minister
Tim, you have question.
Tim Shipman (Times & Sunday Times)
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Tim Shipman |
It sounds as though there might be a long and widespread knowledge of the value of vitamin D in immunity and defence against infection. We have just heard about it for the first time this morning, and so may I ask when you first heard about it?
Prime Minister
Speaking for myself, it was just after breakfast this morning. What about you Patrick?
Patrick Vallance
I heard about it yesterday evening. I was alerted by a member of my staff who had just seen some interesting Blog posts and Tweets.
Prime Minister
And you Chris ? When did you first hear about it?
Chris Whitty
When Patrick phoned me yesterday evening.
Tim Shipman
Why did you as Chief Medical Officer not know about the value of vitamin D in defensive immunity?
Chris Whitty
Well, I can’t be expected to know everything. I thought vitamin D was all about bones and children with rickets.
Prime Minister
Let’s move on. Bob, you have a question.
Robert Peston (ITV News)
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Robert Peston |
Prime Minister, what can people do if supplies of vitamin D are not sufficient for our needs?
Prime Minister
That is difficult one Bob. Over to you Patrick.
Patrick Vallance
We can eat oily fish, such as mackerel in particular. Do you remember the days when as children we were given disgusting Cod Liver Oil? It turns out that our mothers were right. We can also obtain vitamin D from the sun, and in fact we usually obtain most of our vitamin D from the sun. We need to expose our skin, not quite all of it, to the sun, at this time of the year in the UK for up to one hour between 10:00am and 4:00pm. We can do this in our gardens, in the parks, and on the beach, or anywhere that is isn’t too cold, and of course when it is not raining.
Prime Minister
That might be bit tricky with social distancing, but we must act very quickly. I suppose we might do what I believe is happening in supermarkets and other places. People would apply for and be given a ticket to lie semi-naked in a park (not in a supermarket) or on a beach. We do not want too many people in one place at one time, and so the ticket would be valid for one hour only. And we would need to have police on patrol. We should be able to create a web-site for this later today and have it up and running by tomorrow morning. Are there any more questions?
Goes on for another half hour with the usual questions and the usual evasive answers.
Day 1.
The daily Covid-19 briefing becomes chaotic as Matt Hancock (Secretary of State for Health), Angel McLean (Deputy Chief Scientific Advisor), and Jenny Harries (Deputy Chief Medical Officer) are inundated with questions about vitamin D that they are unable to answer.
The briefing is brought to a rapid close.
Newspaper headlines:
Crowds outside pharmacies
Vitamin D is in short supply
Demand for permits is overwhelming
Web-site for permits to sunbathe in public places crashes.
Public parks crowded with semi-naked people
Queues of cars at approaches to beaches
Asian groups complain that sunbathing advice is against their religious practices
Day 2 Newspaper headlines:
Government suspends daily Covid-19 announcements
Vitamin D supplies to the public are exhausted
Black market develops for vitamin D
People fighting for entry into parks
Sunbathers refuse to leave after one hour
Police cannot control crowds
Day 3 Newspaper headlines:
Public Health agencies are struggling to prioritise the vitamin D supplies that they have been able to obtain.
China refuses to release more vitamin D
It is not yet warm enough to shear sheep
Fish shops noting a big demand for mackerel
Day 4 Newspaper headlines:
Vitamin D : Civil disobedience.
Family doctors are struggling with demand for
vitamin D blood tests
Crowds outside hospitals demanding vitamin D
Heavy rain diminishes crowds in parks
Day 5 Newspaper headlines:
Why was vitamin D not stockpiled?
If vitamin D has been known for a long time to help immunity,
why was it not recommended two months ago?
Large protests in Trafalgar Square
Chief Medical Officer and Chief Scientist resign
Calls on Prime Minister to resign
Day 6 Newspaper headlines:
Rapid decrease of deaths from Covid-19
Lockdown ended to enable people resume normal lives
Day 7 Newspaper headlines:
In anticipation of future epidemics, Government sets up
Scientific Advisory Committee for Immune Defence
And then I woke up, listened to the radio news and I realised that it had all been a dream, but a pleasant dream. It would have been nice to remain asleep but now I was awake I had to continue with the daily nightmare of Covid-19 with no action taken to stop deaths.
How many more will die today? Will there be any more deaths of black African and Asian doctors? Or more nurses and care workers? When will someone listen to what many doctors are saying and writing about the potential value of vitamin D? When will "vitamin D" appear in the newspapers, on the radio, on the television, or at the government daily Covid-19 briefing? When will we have a televised debate on the value of vitamin D, with full display of the large evidence?
I often hear and read vitamin D sceptics saying: "Vitamin D in Covid-19 is unproven". If commentators knew the meaning of "proof" they would not make such a ridiculous statement. Absolute proof rarely exists in the real world, and so, as in law, we must look at all the evidence, and then we must make a judgement on the basis of "Beyond reasonable doubt".
My Blog posts during the past six week have had more than 20,000 readers. Although the message does not appear to be reaching those in political power, it seems to be contributing to a much larger "grass-roots" movement. There has been an increasing demand for vitamin D, and supplies from some sources have been exhausted.
But perhaps the dream of government endorsement of the proven importance of vitamin D in maximising immunity will become a reality. Hopefully very soon.
COVID-19 treated by Vitamin D - studies, reports, videos - constantly updated on Vitamin D Life
Contents as of Nov 13:
- 36 trials, 3 trial results, 30 observations, 11 recommendations, 35 associations, 75 speculations, 26 videos
Top Vitamin D and COVID-19 recent updates
- 2X fewer COVID-19 deaths observed if infrequent vitamin D (2X more deaths if daily dose) – UK Oct 20, 2020
- Vitamin D fighting COVID-19 meets Bradford Hill Criteria - Nov 2020
- French National Academy recommended 100,000 IU of Vitamin D to elderly to fight COVID-19 - May 2020
- Chinese COVID-19 study – 80 pct of severe cases had low Vitamin D, all asymptomatic cases had OK Vit D – Oct 13, 2020
- Vitamin D and COVID-19 - observational studies found it helps, never hurts - Campbell Oct 31, 2020
- COVID-19 increased risks with low vitamin D: Infection 1.5 X, Hospitalization 1.8 X – meta-analysis Oct 2020
- COVID-19 lung death 4X more likely in Iran if less than 25 ng of vitamin D – Oct 30, 2020
- Evidence Regarding Vitamin D and Risk of COVID-19 and its Severity - Oct 27, 2020
- COVID-19 patients who happened to be taking Vitamin D did much better – Oct 27,2020
- 9X COVID-19 survival in nursing home if had 80,000 IU dose of vitamin D in previous month – Oct 2020
- COVID-19 fought by Vitamin D in 43 studies - Oct 15, 2020
- 15 studies indicating that Vitamin D fights COVID-19 - Dr. Grimes Oct 9, 2020
- 32X more likely to have severe-critical COVID-19 in Turkish hospital if Vitamin D deficient – Oct 5, 2020
- {img type="attId" attId="14387" width="250"}
- Vitamin D Cuts SARS-CoV-2 Infection Rate by Half Mercola Sept 28
- 47% lower SARS-CoV-2 positivity rate if > 50 ng vs < 20 ng
- 58% lower risk of testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 if > 30 ng vs < 30 ng
- 2X higher risk of hospitialization if <30 ng
- ICU patients got semi-activated Vitamin D - death rate dropped to 2% from 50%
- Virtually no COVID-19 cases in countries having more than 30 ng of Vitamin D - Sept 17, 2020
- {img type="attId" attId="14336" width="500"}
- Studies on Vitamin D and COVID-19 (11 categories) - Sept 20, 2020
- Rate of COVID-19 test positive is 40 pcnt lower if high vitamin D (192,000 people) - Holick Sept 2020
- {img type="attId" attId="14324" width="500"}
- 14.7 X more likely to die of COVID-19 if less than 12 ng of Vitamin D (185 Germans) – Sept 10, 2020
- {img type="attId" attId="14291" width="450"}
- Low D increases risk of infection. Dr. Fauci Sept 11
- "If you're deficient in vitamin D, that does have an impact on your susceptibility to infection. I would not mind recommending, and I do it myself, taking vitamin D supplements,..." 32 minutes into Instagram interview
- Dr. Fauci takes 6,000 IU of Vitamin D daily – Sept 2020
- {img type="fileId" fileId="3319" width="600" link=https://vitad.org/COVID-19+treated+by+Vitamin+D+-+studies%2C+reports%2C+videos#Observe_-_Less_likey_to_become_infected}
Click on chart for details
- COVID-19 defeated by activated Vitamin D in Spain - pilot RCT Aug 29, 2020
- WHO – Severe COVID-19 mortality reduced by hormones (should consider hormone D too) - Sept 2020
- Vitamin D in Prevention and Treatment of COVID-19 (16 reasons) – Sept 1, 2020
{FONT(size="18")} Search Google Scholar for COVID-19 Vitamin D{FONT} 20,000 publications Oct 10, 2020
Intervention
Intervention Trial Summary Table
{img type="fileId" fileId="3316" width="950"}
- 2X fewer COVID-19 deaths observed if infrequent vitamin D (2X more deaths if daily dose) – UK Oct 20, 2020
- A Clinical Trial, not a Randomized Controled Clinical Trial
- COVID-19 defeated by activated Vitamin D in Spain - pilot RCT Aug 29, 2020
Observe - Less likely to become infected
short URL to this section = https://is.gd/COVID_less
- {img type="fileId" fileId="3319" width="600"}
- 1 Rate of COVID-19 test positive is 40 pcnt lower if high vitamin D (192,000 people) - Holick Sept 2020
- {img type="attId" attId="14324" width="500"}
- 2 COVID-19 increased: 3.5 if Ultra-Orthodox, 2.6X if dark skin (52,000 Israelis) - Sept, 2020
- 3 COVID-19 1.77X less likely if more than 20 ng of vitamin D (489 people) – JAMA Sept 2020
- 1.8 X higher risk if <12 ng vs >30 ng - independent of sex, race
- 4 7X less likely to test COVID-19 positive if had more than 30 ng of Vitamin D (7,804 Israelis) - preprint July 3
- and 20X less likely to be hospitalized for COVID-19
- Peer-reviewed July 23 FREE PDF
- Low plasma 25(OH) vitamin D level is associated with increased risk of COVID-19 infection: an Israeli population-based study preprint
- COVID-19 antibodies 2.6 X more likely if had symptoms and low vitamin D (UK hospital staff)– Oct 5 2020
- Vitamin D Cuts SARS-CoV-2 Infection Rate by Half Mercola Sept 28
- 47% lower SARS-CoV-2 positivity rate if > 50 ng vs < 20 ng
- 58% lower risk of testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 if > 30 ng vs < 30 ng
- 2X higher risk of hospitialization if <30 ng
- ICU patients got semi-activated Vitamin D - death rate dropped to 2% from 50%
- COVID-19 increased risks with low vitamin D: Infection 1.5 X, Hospitalization 1.8 X – meta-analysis Oct 2020
Observe - Reduced Severity/Death
- Chinese COVID-19 study – 80 pct of severe cases had low Vitamin D, all asymptomatic cases had OK Vit D – Oct 13, 2020
- COVID-19 lung death 4X more likely in Iran if less than 25 ng of vitamin D – Oct 30, 2020
- COVID-19 patients who happened to be taking Vitamin D did much better – Oct 27,2020
- 9X COVID-19 survival in nursing home if had 80,000 IU dose of vitamin D in previous month – Oct 2020
- 15 studies indicating that Vitamin D fights COVID-19 - Dr. Grimes Oct 9, 2020
- Children infection by COVID-19 had much lower levels than controls Research Gate, Turkey Oct 2020
- 32X more likely to have severe-critical COVID-19 in Turkish hospital if Vitamin D deficient – Oct 5, 2020
- {img type="attId" attId="14387" width="250"}
- Admission to COVID-19 ICU 1.7X more likely to have less than 20 ng of vitamin D – Sept 2020
- Vitamin D levels were NOT associated with COVID-19 severity - Sept 2020
- ALL patients had < 20 ng of vitamin D.
- Impact of Vitamin D Deficiency on COVID-19-A Prospective Analysis from the CovILD Registry,
- Hint: need >30 ng to get a benefit doi: 10.3390/nu12092775
- Studies on Vitamin D and COVID-19 (11 categories) - Sept 20, 2020
- COVID-19 3.2X more likely to be severe if vitamin D deficient (80 patients) – Sept 22, 2020
- 14.7 X more likely to die of COVID-19 if less than 12 ng of Vitamin D (185 Germans) – Sept 10, 2020
- Vitamin D associated with less severe COVID-19 (Iran) - Aug 28, 2020
- Less COVID-19 at high altitude due to more Vitamin D or other possible reasons – July 2020
- Far fewer COVID-19 deaths in the summer (Europe, Canada) Aug 21
- Death rates fell as vitamin D levels typically go up in the summer.
- Many charts. 4 other possible reasons for the drop in death rates
- COVID ARDS deaths 2X more likely if less than 10 ng of Vitamin D – Aug 8, 2020
- {img type="attId" attId="14161" width="400"}
- Observations that Vitamin D, Zinc, and Selenium separately reduce COVID-19 – Aug 7, 2020
- Vitamin D Supplementation During the COVID-19 Pandemic Mayo Clinic Letter (Online June 6) Aug 5, FREE 2 page PDF
- "In Slovenia, in view of COVID-19 pandemic, medical doctors were urgently advised by leading experts to supplement vitamin D in high-risk and fragile individuals and in COVID-19 patients"
- Russian Hospital observed 5X more likely to have severe COVID-19 if Vitamin D Deficient – Aug 2020
- Vitamin D Sufficiency Reduced Risk for Morbidity and Mortality in COVID-19 Patients - Holick July 14
- No COID19 deaths in a hospital if >41 ng and <80 years old
- [https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0239799&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+plosone%2FPLoSONE+%28PLOS+ONE+-+New+Articles%29|Peer reviewed publication] Sept 25
- "We did observe that 6.3% of the patients who had a blood level of 25(OH)D of at least 40 ng/mL succumbed to the infection compared to 9.7% and 20% who died and had a circulating blood level above and below 30 ng/mL respectively. Thus, a blood level of at least 40 ng/mL may be optimal for vitamin D’s immunomodulatory effect. "
- [https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0239799.s001&type=supplementary|Nice 4 minute video by Dr. Holick] - unfortunately only recommends 1500 - 2000 IU for adults, which will take >6 months to get most people above 16 ng
- {img type="attId" attId="14056" width="500"}
- Evaluation of the Relationship Between Zinc Vitamin D and b12 Levels in the Covid-19 Positive Pregnant Women posted May 29
- Exclusion Criteria: No vitamin D , Vitamin B12 or Zinc supplement use
- Clinical trial Arm1: Observe COVID-19 Deaths and Vitamin D levels in the UK trial completion June 2021
- Arm2: Measure Vitamin D of patients in general practices and see if they get COVID-19 in the next 6 months (prevention)
- Clinical trial observing Vitamin D levels of 500 people in Spain at entry into ICU and recording outcomes hould have been completed July 2020
- Clinical trial to observe vitamin D levels of 100 COVID-19 Turks in hospital should have been completed July 2020
- Bursa City Hospital, NCT04394390
- WHO 3 RCT for Vitamin D and COVID-19 as of May 27 (WHO not responding when asked for details)
- NCT04386044 Investigating the Role of Vitamin D in the Morbidity of COVID-19 Patients 10/05/2020
- NCT04334005 Vitamin D on Prevention and Treatment of COVID-19 29/03/2020
- ChiCTR2000029732 Impact of vitamin D deficiency on prognosis of patients with novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) 2020-02-10
- Clinical trial to measure Vitamin D status AND vitamin D genes of COVID-19 patients in Portugal Study completion date March 2021
- No intervention, hope they consider genes not noticed by Vit. D tests: such as Vitamin D Receptor, CYP27B1
{FONT(size="18")} Vitamin D Dosing Recommendations for COVID-19{FONT}
- French National Academy recommended 100,000 IU of Vitamin D to elderly to fight COVID-19 - May 2020
- COVID-19 probably fought by 40 ng of Vitamin D - quickly achieved with 200K-400K IU - Oct 28, 2020
- A single dose of 300,000 IU of vitamin D should fight COVID-19 for 2 months - Hypothesis - Aug 21, 2020
- Vitamin D recommended for COVID-19 – yet another study – July 17, 2020
- Massive Review of papers on Vitamin D and COVID-19 - July 3, 2020
- {img type="attId" attId="14051" width="800"}
- Portion of image from June 5 video (below)
- {img type="attId" attId="13904" width="500"}
- Parkinson's Disease patients who were taking Vitamin D were 0.56 X less likely to catch COVID-19 - June 2020
- COVID‐19 in Parkinson’s Disease Patients Living in Lombardy, Italy: https://doi.org/10.1002/mds.28176
- {img type="attId" attId="14275" width="800"}
- Commentary: Myths and facts on vitamin D amidst the COVID-19 pandemic Metabolism, June 2, FREE PDF, peer-reviewed publication
- "Preventive doses of vitamin D3 of 10,000 IU/day for 4 weeks followed by 5000 IU/day to reach a target 25(OH)D level of 100–150 nmol/L [24], and treatment doses >6000 IU/day in deficient individuals to reach a similar level and reduce disease progression [48], are suggested. ""
- Comment: Strange that the treatment dose is less than the prevention dose. Note treatment dose will take > 3 months to help
- Perhaps they meant the treatment dose to be 60,000 IU, not 6,000 IU
- Perspective: improving vitamin D status in the management of COVID-19 May 22 free PDF
- If low: 50,000 IU twice a week at the diagnosis (100,000 IU total)., then 50,000 IU taken once a week for the 2nd and 3rd weeks.
- Note: Vitamin D Life believes that this dosing is not large enough for prevention, much less treatment
- If low: 50,000 IU twice a week at the diagnosis (100,000 IU total)., then 50,000 IU taken once a week for the 2nd and 3rd weeks.
- COVID-19 might be prevented in 2 months by 50,000 IU weekly – May 12, 2020
- for people who have not been taking any vitamin D BusinessWorld May 22 - by Dr Renu Mahtani in videos below
- Vitamin D 60k IU twice a week for two weeks to be followed by 60k once a week for the next six weeks.
- or Vitamin D 60k IU daily for three days to be followed by 60k weekly for the total period of two months.
- Thus 480,000 IU total, No Vitamin D testing needed
{FONT(size="18")}Some people wanted improved immune systems, so took more vitamin D{FONT}
- 2X to 10 X reduction in rate of preemies during COVID-19 in some countries NYT July 19
- No mention about any possible increased Vitamin D sales in Denmark, Ireland, Calgary,
- Sales of vitamin D supplements up 3000% after Public Health England recommendation May 14
- BBC reported a 6X decrease in % people dying of COVID-19 BBC June 16
- {img type="attId" attId="13961" width="600"}
- "Wonder if increased D ==> fewer % of COVID-19 patients ended up dying: 6% ==> 1%. Noted also in Italy
- Alternately, the decreased death rate of COVID-19 patients might be just due to more Vitamin D in the summer
- {img type="attId" attId="13962" width="700"}
- COVID-19 resulted in 3.7X decrease in Irish Very Low Weight Births (Vitamin D) - June 2020 Vitamin D sales had increased by 2500%
- I expect to find many other observations of:
- Fear of COVID-19 ==> Want to improve immune system ==> Take Vitamin D ==> Improved health
- Candidate health concerns for which people have probably have heard about Vitamin D include:
- Pregnancy, Asthma, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's, and Cancer
- I expect to find many other observations of:
{FONT(size="18")}COVID-19 associated with Low Vitamin D{FONT}
- Vitamin D fighting COVID-19 meets Bradford Hill Criteria - Nov 2020
- Magnesium (which increases vitamin D) may fight COVID-19 - Oct 2020
- Studies on Vitamin D and COVID-19 (11 categories) - Sept 20, 2020
- Low serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D levels in patients hospitalised with COVID‐19 are associated with greater disease severity July 3 FREE PDF
- Has undergone peer review, 200,000 IU Vitamin D occasional dosing, 134 people
- Obesity, walking pace and risk of severe COVID-19: Analysis of UK Biobank preprint July 11
- normal weight slow walkers were 2.5 more likely to get COVID-19
- Perspective: Vitamin D deficiency and COVID-19 severity - plausibly linked by latitude, ethnicity, impacts on cytokines, ACE2, and thrombosis (R1) July 2020, FREE PDF
- ICU was 2X less likely for COVID-19 hospitalization if Vitamin D more than 20 ng – July 2020
- T1 Diabetic children with low vitamin D have COVID-19 problems (like diabetic adults) - preprint May 15
- COVID-19 deaths strongly correlated with percent having less than 10 ng of Vitamin D in a country– July 1 2020
- {img type="attId" attId="13974" width="600"}
- {img type="attId" attId="14057" width="600"}
- Pregnant women admitted to hospital with COVID-19 5X more often than non-pregnant women NYT June 24
- 31% vs 6%. Note: NYT article is confusing. Note: Vitamin D levels drop during pregnancy
- The role of vitamin D in reducing risk of COVID-19: a brief survey of the literature - June 9, 2020 in Vitamin D Life
- Evidence Supports a Causal Model for Vitamin D in COVID-19 Outcomes – June 3, 2020 in Vitamin D Life
- Founder of Vitamin D Life believes that Causal Modeling will replace many RCTs in the future
- BIG DATA is far faster and lower cost than RCTs while being able to consider far more interactions
- Model A: 16 predictions match observed data; 3 predictions cannot be determined.
- {img type="attId" attId="13906" width="800"}
- Founder of Vitamin D Life believes that Causal Modeling will replace many RCTs in the future
- Obese have major problems with COVID-19 - probably due to lower vitamin D and higher ACE2 June 5, 2020
- Researchers show potential link between vitamin D and coronavirus NBC News Madison Wisconsin May 22
- Reporting on the study from the University in that city - which is below
- Vitamin D for Covid-19? May 12 FREE PDF
- Perspective: improving vitamin D status in the management of COVID-19 European Journal of Clinical Nutrition May 12 FREE PDF
- Avoidance of vitamin D deficiency to slow the COVID-19 pandemic Martin Kohlmeier, BMJ, May 20 FREE PDF
- Vitamin D deficiency as risk factor for severe COVID-19: a convergence of two pandemics preprint May 5. updated May 18
- 186 patients. Lower Vitamin D levels associated with worse COVID-19 only for males
- {img type="attId" attId="13801" width="500"}
- Vitamin D levels : all males at same hospital in 2019, males in 2020 with COVID-19
- {img type="attId" attId="13878" width="500"}
- COVID-19 and vitamin D—Is there a link and an opportunity for intervention? Hrvoje Jakova, letter to the editor, May 1, FREE PDF
- [https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-30390/v1 |No COVID-19 patient in ICU had >20 ng, 4 had 12.5-20 ng, 13 had < 12.ng ] preprint May 22
- COVID-19 associated with low Vitamin D in more than 20 studies – May 21, 2020 BMJ reply
- Max Minute: How Much Does Vitamin D Help Against COVID-19? CBS News NYC Video May 19
- The Essential Role of Vitamin D in the Biosynthesis of Endogenous Antimicrobial Peptides May Explain Why Deficiency Increases Mortality Risk in COVID-19 Infections preprint May 16 (at least 10,000 IU daily)
- Vitamin D appears to play role in COVID-19 mortality rates Northwestern Univ. May 7
- "Patients with severe deficiency are twice as likely to experience severe complications, including death"
- "...statistical analysis of data from hospitals and clinics across China, France, Germany, Italy, Iran, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States."
- There are 2 concurrent pandemics – COVID-19 and Vitamin D deficiency – May 13, 2020
- Vitamin D Deficiency and ARDS after SARS-CoV-2 Infection Irish Medical Journal May 11
- Analysis of 36 COVID-19 patients: Vitamin D status: (nmol) ARDS 27, pneumonia 41;
- and, if <30 nmol. 3.2 X more likely to have intubation
Vitamin D levels are lower in those who test positive for COVID-19 -[doi:10.3390/nu12051359| Nutrients] May 09
- {img type="attId" attId="13798" width="250"}
- [https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2020/05/08/vitamin-d-level-correlated-to-covid19-outcomes.aspx?cid_source=dnl&cid_medium=email&cid_content=art1HL&cid=20200508Z1&et_cid=DM527863&et_rid=867359477 |Vitamin D Level Is Directly Correlated to COVID-19 Outcome] Mercola May 8
- Overview of many studies and video by Ivor Cummins
- [https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/05/200507131012.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Fhealth_medicine%2Fvitamin_d+%28Vitamin+D+News+--+ScienceDaily%29 |Vitamin D linked to low virus death rate in 20 countries in Europe] Science Daily May 7
- [https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.05.01.20087965 |Evidence Supports a Causal Model for Vitamin D in COVID-19 Outcomes] May 6 preprint
- Excellent extensive use of Causal Influence AI to discover associations.
- I have suspected that Causal Influence could be much better, far lower cost, and faster than the use of RCTs
- [https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3586555|Evidence of Protective Role of Ultraviolet-B (UVB) Radiation in Reducing COVID-19 deaths] preprint May 7
- "permanent unit increase in UVI is associated with a 2.2 % decline in daily growth rates of cumulative COVID-19 deaths [p < 0.01]
- as well as a 1.9 % decline in the daily growth rates of CFR [p < 0.05]
- 64 countries, 78 days, 6 UVI models
- [https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3593258#.XrE0oF1wSjU.twitter |Vitamin D Level of Mild and Severe Elderly Cases of COVID-19: A Preliminary Report] May 5
- 176 seniors in S. Asia - published in India
- {img type="attId" attId="13789" width="300"}
- Almost everyone with COVID-19 in a Louisiana ICU had low vitamin D – April 29, 2020
- COVID-19 mortality rate highest North of 35 degrees latitude (Vitamin D) – April 20, 2020
- COVID-19 was 19X more likely if low vitamin D (may be invalid data)– April 2020 Philippines
- The raw data has strange gaps in the vitamin D levels
- {img type="attId" attId="13978" width="500"}
- Research Suggests a Link Between Vitamin D Deficiency and COVID-19 Deaths May 5
- Indonesia preprint 13X if vitamin D insufficient,19X for patients who are vitamin D deficient.
- Vitamin D Life has requested but has not yet access to the raw data
- COVID-19 infections associated with very low vitamin D – Turin Italy – March 2020
{FONT(size="18")} Speculation{FONT}
- Evidence Regarding Vitamin D and Risk of COVID-19 and its Severity - Oct 27, 2020
- COVID-19 fought by Vitamin D in 43 studies - Oct 15, 2020
- AI is examining 170,000 potential COVID-19 treatments, Vitamin D is one of only 6 found – Sept 4, 2020
- The benefits of Vitamin D in the COVID-19 pandemic: biochemical and immunological mechanisms Oct 8, behind paywall
- Vitamin D could knock out COVID-19 in 3 months – Dr. Matthews interview Oct 2020
- Studies on Vitamin D and COVID-19 (11 categories) - Sept 20, 2020
- Possible role of vitamin D supplementation in coronavirus disease 2019 - Sept 2020
- Note how long standard publication takes - it was accepted (after peer review?) June 18
- WHO – Severe COVID-19 mortality reduced by hormones (should consider hormone D too) - Sept 2020
- COVID-19 Call to Action – eliminate Vitamin D deficiency – Manson Sept 1, 2020
- Vitamin D in Prevention and Treatment of COVID-19 (16 reasons) – Sept 1, 2020
- AARP features a news item on Vitamin D (and Zinc) and COVID-19 AARP Aug 17
- Nothing new, but it is nice to see Vitamin D being highlighted
- Perhaps the Vitamin D deficiency pandemic caused the COVID-19 pandemic - Aug 17, 2020
- The Covid-19 pandemic is a Vitamin D Deficiency problem and is easy to solve – June 2020
- Mainstream Media Catching on to Vitamin D’s Impact on COVID - Aug 17, 2020
- Prudent to consider that Vitamin D has a role in COVID-19 – meta-analysis – Aug 7, 2020 nice chart and table
- Progesterone and ACE2 are possible reasons for fewer female COVID-19 deaths
- {img type="attId" attId="14141" width="250"}
- MECHANISMS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY: Vitamin D and COVID-19 in European Journal of Endocrinology Aug 1
- 32 pages, 180 references, FREE PDF
- Vitamin D3 and K2 and their potential contribution to reducing the COVID-19 mortality rate Inter. J. of Infectious Diseases, Aug 5, FREE PDF
- Has a Causal Loop Diagram of Vitamin D3, K2 and the immune system
- Call to Action: Eliminate Vitamin D Deficiency during COVID-19 (7 reasons) – Manson July 23, 2020 in Vitamin D Life
- Vitamin D and Inflammation: Potential Implications for Severity of Covid-19 May 7, PMID: 32603576
- Vitamin D Supplementation: A Potential Approach for Coronavirus/COVID-19 Therapeutics?
- June 23, 2020 FREE PDF, Peer reviewed by Dr. Grant. Includes the following:
- "We demonstrated that a daily oral supplement of 4000 IU of vitamin D during 10 days represented an adequate dose to enhance dengue virus control and reduce the cytokine response, in vitro, suggesting that vitamin D status can, in fact, restrict the viral assault (53, 54)."
- See also Vitamin D Life: Dengue virus prevented by a small amount of Vitamin D – RCT Nov 2019
- Experts criticise UK govt. for review of Vitamin D COVID-19 Nutragredients July 2
- "Shouldn't the best available proof be enough when it is better than doing nothing?"
- Nursing homes could reduce risk of COVID-19 with Vitamin D – June 30, 2020
- Hill's Criteria indicates that COVID-19 will be treated by Vitamin D - Annweiler June 8 2020
- Evidence that vitamin D is causally linked to COVID-19 outcomes using
{img type="attId" attId="13965" width="1100"}
- Vitamin D: A cheap yet effective bullet against coronavirus disease-19 – Are we convinced yet?
- June 5, FREE PDF
- How We can fix this pandemic in a month (Vitamin D: 20K IU for 14 days) – June 22, 2020 in Vitamin D Life
- COVID-19 1.9X more likely if Hypocalcemia (which is associated with low vitamin D) June 22, small study, FREE 17 page PDF
- Possible Role of Vitamin D in Covid-19 Infection in Pediatric Population Endocrinol Investigation June 15, FREE PDF
- Covid-19: Public health agencies review whether vitamin D supplements could reduce risk BMJ June 19
- The 2017 BMJ publication that concluded that vitamin D reduced the risk of ARDS was viewed 300,000 times since COVID-19 started.
- An RCT this Winter may be run by the UK to confirm the possibility
- Note: Many other RCTs are already underway - see the top of this section
- Vitamin D and Coronavirus Geriatric Nursing, June 18
- Vitamin D deficiency and co-morbidities in COVID-19 patients – A fatal relationship – June 7, 2020 in Vitamin D Life
- Does Vitamin D play a role in the management of Covid-19 in Brazil? April 2020 free PDF
- A strong role, but recommends against high doses such as 10,000 IU - no reason given
- Exploring the Links Between Coronavirus and Vitamin D NYT June 10
- A review of preprints, which does not look at on-line comments about about errors in a few of them.
- Apparently authored by a reporter, not a scientist
- Is Vitamin D One of the Key Elements in COVID-19 Days? June 2020, letter to editor, Turkey
- " Although there is a need for more research related to this subject, we think that supplementing vitamin D as a part of standard nutrition may be somewhat effective in providing clinical benefit"
- El rol de la vitamina D en la infección por SARS-CoV-2 Spanish June FREE PDF
- Is Vitamin D One of the Key Elements in COVID-19 Days? Letter to the editor of The journal of nutrition, health & aging - June 13
- YES, 20 references
- Vitamin D Levels and COVID-19 Susceptibility: Is there any Correlation? June 2 FREE PDF
- 4,000 IU for 2 months should help a lot. No data (yet) to support quickly fighting COVID-19 with loading doses
- Does Vitamin D play a role in the management of Covid-19 in Brazil? June 1, FREE PDF
- Recommends AGAINST 10,000 IU/day
- Supplementing with high doses of vitamin D could represent a promising alternative to prevent or treat COVID-19 infection June 1, peer reviewed ,FREE Spanish PDF
- 10,000 IU daily, 50,000 to 100,000 IU weekly
- Your Vitamin D Level Must Reach 60ng/mL Before the Second Wave Mercola June 1
- Founder of Vitamin D Life believes than 40 ng should be sufficient - based on ~40 studes
- Does vitamin D (and C) help with Covid-19 - May 2020 Germany
- Vitamin D deficiency and COVID-19 pandemic May 29 FREE PDF
- Patrick Zemb a Peter Bergmanb Carlos A.Camargo Jr c, Etienne Cavalier d, Catherine Cormier e, Marie Courbebaisse f, Bruce Hollis g, Salvatore Minisola h Stefan Pilz i, Pawel Pludowsk j, François Schmitt k, Mihnea Zdrenghea l, Jean-ClaudeSouberbielle m"
- Premorbid IL-6 levels may predict mortality from COVID-19 preprint, Morry Silberstein May 29 FREE PDF
- Vitamin D: A simpler alternative to tocilizumab for trial in COVID-19? Medical Hypotheses, Morry Silberstein July 2020 FREE PDF
- "Vitamin D lowers immune cell production of IL-6"
- {img type="attId" attId="13871" width="400"}
- "Vitamin D lowers immune cell production of IL-6"
- Does COVID-19 have a fear of hights? -(or just a fear of the increased VItamin D generated at high altitudes) WP May 31
- Cusco Peru (11,000 feet) - Vitamin D is not mentioned. yet there may be 50% more UVB-generated Vitamin D at that altiude
- "In one peer-reviewed study, published in the journal Respiratory Physiology & Neurobiology, researchers from Australia, Bolivia, Canada and Switzerland looking at epidemiological data from Bolivia, Ecuador and Tibet found populations living above 3,000 meters (9,842 feet) reported significantly lower levels of confirmed infections than their lowland counterparts"
- Reduced COVID-19 in Mexico is associated with higher UV or higher elevation (both of which are associated with higher vitamin D) preprint May 27
- {img type="attId" attId="13865" width="600"}
- {img type="attId" attId="13866" width="600"}
- Vitamin-D and COVID-19: Do Deficient Risk a Poorer Outcome? Lancet May 20
- Reviews many reports and includes the following comment by a researcher of "COVIDENCE UK, a study to investigate how diet and lifestyle factors might influence transmission of SARS-CoV-2, severity of COVID-19 symptoms, speed of recovery, and any long-term effect"
- "Despite his enthusiasm for the study, Martineau is pragmatic: “At best vitamin D deficiency will only be one of many factors involved in determining outcome of COVID-19, but it’s a problem that could be corrected safely and cheaply; there is no downside to speak of, and good reason to think there might be a benefit”.
- Should be cost-effective to use Vitamin D, Vitamin C and Curcumin to fight Covid-19 in India preprint May 22
- Fails to mention dose sizes or frequencies
- U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman (Wisc.) wants the CDC to investigate if Vitamin D can fight COVID-19 May 22
- Letter: does vitamin D have a potential role against COVID-19 May 20
- {img type="attId" attId="13835" width="450"}
- Optimisation of Vitamin D Status for Enhanced Immuno-protection Against Covid-19 Irish Medical Journal, April 2020
- Lungs as target of COVID-19 infection: Protective common molecular mechanisms of vitamin D and melatonin as a new potential synergistic treatment Aug 2020
- both should help fight lung problems. Clinical Trials needed to see to discover dosing and benefits FREE PDF
- Mechanism of inflammatory response in associated comorbidities in COVID-19 PubMed literature Review May 12, free PDF
- "Vitamin D is highlighted as a potential therapeutic target, because in addition to acting on the immune system, it plays an important role in the control of cardiometabolic diseases"
- Vitamin D: A Low-Hanging Fruit in COVID-19? Medscape May 17
- Statements by a dozen doctors, such as Dr. Rosen: "I've been a huge skeptic from the get-go, and loudly criticized the data for doing nothing. I am surprised at myself for saying there might be some effect,"
- DOES VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY REALLY INCREASE RISK OF DEATH FROM COVID-19? Newsweek May 15
- Reviews about 10% of the items on this page
- Which fights COVID-19 more in the long-term - Vitamin D or Ultraviolet light Elemental+ May 13
- Note: Megadoses of Vitamin D can restore the immune system in days, whereas UV takes months
- Vitamin D and SARS-CoV-2 virus (Vitamin D should help) British Medical Journal May 13, 2020
- Unfortunately. the UK consensus is that 400 IU is enough to prevent or treat any health problem, including COVID-19
- The Possible Role of Vitamin D in Suppressing Cytokine Storm and Associated Mortality in COVID-19 Patients preprint April 30
- FoxNews May 7: China, France, Germany, Italy, Iran, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, the UK and the US.
- Also reported on in Science Blogs and as The Vitamin That Reduces COVID Risk PSYBLOG May 30
- "Backman said this correlation might help explain the many mysteries surrounding COVID-19, such as why children are less likely to die. 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. Children primarily rely on their innate immune system,” Backman said. “This may explain why their mortality rate is lower.”
- "Not only does vitamin D enhance our innate immune systems, it also prevents our immune systems from becoming dangerously overactive"
- Role of vitamin D in pathogenesis and severity of COVID-19 infection preprint April 20
- Includes ACE2 discussion
- {img type="attId" attId="13785" width="500"}
- Perhaps solve the other pandemic: Vitamin D deficiency — to help beat Coronavirus? April 9, Joanneova - Australia 258 comments 10 days later
- Vitamin D reduces viral respiratory infections – editorial April 18, 2020 in Vitamin D Life
- Taiwan seniors have high vitamin D levels, perhaps that reduces the risk of COVID-19 outbreaks von Helden April 18
- Does Vitamin D Protect Us From Viral Infections? April 6
- Croatian, 17 references - probably does protect
- Deficient Vitamin D status might be a severe risk factor for COVID-19 DailyKos April 9
- The role of Vitamin D in the prevention of Coronavirus Disease 2019 infection and mortality April 8
- Charts of country levels of vitamin D and COIVD-19 cases and mortality Published May 6
- Chart by von Helden No high death rates if Vitamin D> 30 ng / ml. (Mortality> 0.1 dead / 1000 inhabitants)
- {img type="attId" attId="13800" width="400"}
- COVID-19: Vitamin D deficiency; and, death rates; are both disproportionately higher in elderly Italians, Spanish, Swedish Somali, and African Americans? April 7
- Vitamin D may be a COVID-19 Game-changer - BMJ April 6, 2020
- Vitamins C and D being considered as Coronavirus Treatments - April 7, 2020
- Preventing a COVID-19 pandemic with Vitamin D – Grant April 2020)
- COVID-19 and Vitamin D: Could We Be Missing Something Simple? Children's Health Defence April 9
- COVID-19 prompts awareness of deficiencies of Vitamin D, C and Magnesium - April 6 2020
- Vitamin D Supplements Could Reduce Risk of Influenza and COVID-19 Infection and Death - April 9, 2020
- Vitamin D should prevent COVID-19 (recommended dose takes 3 months to raise levels) - April 2020
- 97 year old woman with hypertension, diabetes, heart problems but with 75 ng of Vitamin D survived COViD-19 von Helden April 10
- Vitamin D supplementation could prevent and treat influenza, CORONAVIRUS, and pneumonia infections - March 2020
{FONT(size="18")} Higher levels of vitamin D result in fewer COVID-19 problems{FONT}
- COVID-19 might be fought by 2 doses of Vitamin D (200,000-300,000 IU each) – Feb 2020 peer-reviewed publication
{FONT(size="18")} VIDEOS and PODCASTS{FONT
- Vitamin D and COVID-19 - observational studies found it helps, never hurts - Campbell Oct 31, 2020
- UK parliament members starting to be interested in Vitamin D for COVID-19 – Oct 10, 2020 with transcript
- COVID-19 and Vitamin D – 3 minute video - Sept 2020 made by students at low cost, but with high content
- Interview of A Marteneau Aug 2, 36 minutes
- 10X more needed for prevention trial as treatment trial, 400 IU might be useful in the UK
- Chris Masterjohn 33 minute Vitamin D and COVID-19 literature review Aug 14
- " > 30 ng "in some way, shape, or form is associated with lower COVID-19 risk"
- Vitamin D looks very promising - Dr. Cambell July 27, 37 minutes
- High Fructose reduces Vitamin D needed to fight COVID-19 June 12, 2020 video, reviews many studies
- COMING OUT STRONGER FROM LOCKDOWN WITH VITAMIN D: A VITAMIN D MOVEMENT INITIATIVE Renu Mahtani and 3 others 13 minutes, June 5 - see her other video below.
- "It is not an optional supplement, It is a non negotiable cellular necessity" 40 ng minimum
- {img type="attId" attId="13893" width="500"}
- "Worrying about Vitamin D toxicity is like worrying about drowning when you are dying of thirst" Dr. Cannell
- Anecdote: 50,000 IU daily for 10 days given to people who live with person infected by COVID-19 ==> prevented infection
- Rhonda Patrick on Joe Rogan May 17
- Philippines: every standard deviation ==> 8 times more likely chance to have a mild
- Indonesia: only 4% of patients with sufficient vitamin D died.
- Blacks 2X as likely to die from COVID-19 than whites in England
- Daily or weekly vitamin D reduced the risk of acute respiratory infection by more than 50%
- Vitamin D normalizes ACE2 receptor levels in animals
- The Cheapest COVID-19 Therapy in the World May 24
- {img type="attId" attId="13889" width="600"}
- Doctor Mike Hansen - 2 nice videos discussing Vitamin D science and interaction with COVID-19
- Vitamin D3, Vitamin D2 and Calcitriol May 21, 13 minutes Does Vitamin D help with Immunity? May 30 13 minutes
- COVID-19 - Do You Need to Start Getting This Vital Nutrient? Mercola May 31
- Video with Hollis, Wagner, and Baggerly of Vitamin D and COVID-19; a 2nd video of Wagner on the immune system
- Understanding—COVID-19: Actions For Mitigating Risks—Facts & Myths Sunil Wimalawansa, 90 minutes May 27
- Dr. Campbell (has daily COVID-19 videos) COVID-19 and Vitamin D May 9
- Dr. Coimbra: Vitamin D and COVID, 88 minutes in Portuguese May 1
- Click here for transcript in many languages
- COVID-19 and Vitamin D 30 minute updated May 12, excellent, Renu Mahtani
- previous version, taken down by YouTube, had 600,000 views, >2,000 comments
- for people who have not been taking any vitamin D she recommends Business World May 22
- Vitamin D 60k IU twice a week for two weeks to be followed by 60k once a week for the next six weeks.
- or Vitamin D 60k IU daily for three days to be followed by 60k weekly for the total period of two months.
- Could Vitamin D Help with COVID-19 April 9 India
- Vitamin D against Viral Infections: Antiviral Nutrition 2020 (excerpt 3) by Dr. Alex Vasquez March 6, 8 minutes
- Vitamin D for respiratory infections April 18 Rishi Desai CDC Viral Infections
- Could Vitamin D Help with COVID-19? April 6
- Vitamin D and Immunity, Lots of Evidence April 15 Dr. Campbell
- Vitamin D normalizes the ACE2, which is the attachment point for COVID-19 virus Dr. Patrick Video April 12
- Her video reviews about a dozen publications. Her description of the importance of vitamin D starts at 24:52
- Many videos by Sunil Wimalawansa April 12-- - , 5-10 minutes each
- He is starting a Randomized Controlled Trial in Sri Lanka for COVID-19 treatment by Vitamin D - not described in the videos
- 20: Vitamin D & COVID-19
- 21: How does vitamin D reduce COVID-19 infection?
- 22: What is ACE2 receptor, through which COVID-19 enters cells
- 23: How does COVID-19 kill us?
- 26: How does vitamin D reduce COVID-19 infection
- 44: What have we learned during the past 2 weeks on COVID-19?
- 45: How vitamin D help to attenuate COVID-19?
- 48: Herd immunity and the importance of testing
- 53 Reducing the severity of COVID-19 with vitamin D adequacy
- 54: Tropical countries, warm weathwer, and lower deaths due to COVID-19
- See also Video May 27 90 minute
- Dr. Eric Berg DC April 5 - one of his many vitamin D videos
- Take 100,000 IU of vitamin D, and again 3 months later to prevent COVID-19 Dr. Anderson March 22
{FONT(size="18")} Groups which actively ignore Vitamin D possibility{FONT}
- The Wellcome-Gates COVID-19 Accelerator initiative expressly prohibits funding for Vitamins.
Why/How Vitamin D both treats and prevents virus
{img type="attId" attId="13387" width="360"}
- Coronaviruses attach to cells via ACE2, Vitamin D might reduce ACE2
- All previous Coronarvirus have been treated by Vitamin D
- Most enveloped virus are treated by Vitamin D
- Vitamin D can inhibit enveloped virus (e.g. Herpes, Zoster, Epstein, Hepatitis, Ebola) – March 2011
- Also: cytomegalovirus, retrovirus-like HIV, Dengue, Yellow fever. Measles, Mumps, smallpox
- The interplay between vitamin D and viral infections – Jan 2019
- Influenza virus might be prevented and treated by Vitamin D, if no vaccination – Aug 2018
- Influenza prevented by 40 ng levels or treated with vitamin D hammer (50,000 IU) – June 2015
- Influenza of 1918 and vitamin D - July 2010 -an H1N1 that was strongly associated with low vitamin D
- Dengue fever - 8X higher risk for getting worse if low vitamin D – Sept 2017
- Immune system is fortified by Vitamin D (other supplements help too)
- Colds and flu prevented and treated by Vitamin D - many studies
Short URL for this section = https://is.gd/COVItaminD