Ask Dr. Nick
On today’s episode, Dr. Nick talks about how low vitamin D status is a risk factor for increased COVID-19 severity. Vitamin D is an important hormone that acts on every cell in the body through a vitamin D receptor. It has many functions, but a main one is to regulate the innate and adaptive immune system. For this reason, having optimal vitamin D is essential to a robust immune response. It is also important for effectiveness of vaccinations. The article in the video shows that increasing vitamin D levels in the blood to above 50 ng/mL can theoretically eliminate mortality risk of COVID-19. It also describes how vitamin D acts a direct inhibitor of SARS-CoV2 and the cytokine storm. Check out the video for more in depth information on how vitamin D works as a hormone to decrease COVID-19 mortality risk!
Borsche L, Glauner B, von Mendel J. COVID-19 Mortality Risk Correlates Inversely with Vitamin D3 Status, and a Mortality Rate Close to Zero Could Theoretically Be Achieved at 50 ng/mL 25(OH)D3: Results of a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Nutrients. 2021 Oct 14;13(10):3596.
