08/20/2020
10 Times Higher Mortality Rate among COVID-19 ARDS Patients with Severe Vitamin D Deficiency
Vitamin D levels below 30 ng/ml associated with acute respiratory failure,
10 ng/ml associated with increased risk of death
Vitamin D plays many very important roles in immune health, including immune and inflammation modulating functions directly within the lungs. Cellular models have demonstrated the direct effect of vitamin D deficiency on the tissues within the lungs, which include increased alveolar inflammation, lung epithelial damage, and hypoxia (the deprivation of oxygen to surrounding tissues). One such result is Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS, aka wet lung), a condition resulting from severe respiratory injury or illness, and a major complication and cause of death among those with serious COVID-19 infections.
Many studies are being published showing an association between low vitamin D levels and increased risk and severity of COVID-19 disease. Some studies among vitamin D deficient COVID-19 patients have also shown improvement in symptoms and survival rates with vitamin D supplementation, indicating that replenishing vitamin D is helpful for improving COVID-19 disease outcome. Current available data suggests that avoiding or correcting vitamin D deficiency at any point during the COVID-19 pandemic may improve outcomes overall. Regardless of the circumstances, if something important for health is ever found to be deficient, shouldn’t that deficiency be corrected in any case?
81% of COVID-19 Patients with Acute Respiratory Failure Had Vitamin D Levels Below 30 ng/ml (75 nmol/L)
A study recently published by Carpagnano et al. looked at data from 42 hospitalized patients in Italy who had been diagnosed with acute respiratory failure due to COVID-19. Vitamin D levels were measured for each patient and were defined as insufficient (20-29 ng/ml or 50-74 nmol/L), moderately deficient (10-19 ng/ml (25-49 nmol/L), and severely deficient (25 nmol/L) at 10 days of hospitalization.
Conclusion by the Study Authors
Carpagnano et al. made the following conclusion:
"Altogether, these considerations support the recommendation that people at risk of influenza and/or COVID-19 consider vitamin D supplementation to raise their 25(OH)D concentrations above 40–60 ng/mL, and that treatment of patients infected with influenza and/or COVID-19 includes higher vitamin D doses."
Protect Your Immune Health by Avoiding Vitamin D Deficiency!
Your vitamin D level matters! In fact, one study showed an almost 60% increased risk in COVID-19 infection for individuals whose vitamin D level was below 30 ng/ml (75 nmol/L) compared to individuals whose vitamin D level was 30 ng/ml or higher. The same study also found that among the COVID-19 positive individuals, there was an almost doubled risk of hospitalization for those whose vitamin D levels were below 30 ng/ml. Ensure your vitamin D and other nutrient levels are within range! Help support a healthy immune system and more by testing today to find out your level of vitamin D and other nutrients important for a healthy immune response.
Are You Getting Enough Vitamin D to Help Yourself?
We're in a time of great crisis that could be greatly affected by making sure you and everyone you know has a serum level of at least 40 ng/ml. Help us help you.
Link to our page here for a detailed explanation of the importance of vitamin D:
https://www.grassrootshealth.net/blog/vitamin-d-incidence-flu-information-know/
