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People with low vitamin D levels are 7% more at risk of catching coronavirus – and DOUBLE risk for blacks who have ‘sunshine vitamin’ deficiency, study finds
- University of Chicago study of the mineral of 4,600 people found those with low vitamin D levels 7% more likely to test positive for COVID-19
- Blacks with low vitamin D were 2.6 times more likely to test positive
- This does not prove that vitamin D prevents infection, but it plays an essential role in the functioning of the immune system.
- Seniors and black people generally have low levels of vitamin D and are both at high risk for COVID-19
People with higher levels of vitamin D in their bloodstream have a lower risk of contracting COVID-19, a new study suggests.
And vitamin levels appear to have a particularly strong effect on blacks, who are at greater risk for both vitamin D deficiency and COVID-19 than whites.
In fact, blacks with vitamin D levels between 30 and 40 ng / mL were 2.64 times more likely to test positive for COVID-19, researchers at the University of Chicago found.
Vitamin D – the “sunshine vitamin” – plays an essential role in a healthy immune system and is primarily absorbed through the skin.
The new study can’t prove that getting enough vitamin D will protect people against the coronavirus, but it does suggest that getting enough of the vitamin could help reduce the risk of getting it – especially for blacks who are nearly three times more likely to be. hospitalized with COVID-19 and twice as likely to die from it.
A growing body of research suggests vitamin D may help protect people against COVID-19, and new study shows people with low levels are 7.2% more at risk of COVID-19 – and blacks are 2 , 6 times more at risk if they lack vitamin D
In their study of 4,368 people in Chicago, the researchers found that those with blood levels below 40 ng / mL had a 7.2% higher risk of testing positive for COVID-19.
The “sufficient” amount of vitamin D is currently the subject of debate among scientists.
Most nutritionists say that a person is deficient if their blood level drops below 40 or 30 ng / mL.
“ These new results tell us that having vitamin D levels above those normally considered sufficient is associated with a decreased risk of testing positive for COVID-19, at least in blacks, ” said Dr David. Meltzer, chief of hospital medicine at the University of Chicago. Medicine and lead author of the study.
“This supports the case for designing clinical trials that can test whether vitamin D can be a viable intervention to reduce the risk of disease, especially in people of color.
The average level varies depending on a variety of factors, including where people live and how much time they spend outdoors.
It also varies by breed.
The sun’s rays are our main source of vitamin D. When the sun hits our skin, it produces the vitamin, unlike most of the vitamins that we absorb from our diet.
People who have more melanin – a compound that gives the skin its pigmentation – do not produce vitamin D as effectively when exposed to the sun.
While the right level of vitamin D is a matter of debate, the study found that black Americans with anything below 40 ng / mL are at high risk for COVID-19 (center graph (
So the same trait that makes people with darker skin – like black or Latinx people – less vulnerable to health problems like skin cancer, also puts them at higher risk for vitamin D deficiency.
A diet high in fatty fish like salmon, red meat or egg yolks can help increase vitamin D levels. Certain series, milks and juices are also fortified with vitamins, and countless supplements can be used. found on drugstore shelves.
Vitamin D is best known for its role in strengthening bones by helping the body use calcium.
But it also plays a role in the immune system.
Vitamin D supercharges the white blood cells that patrol the bloodstream and are part of the first lines of defense against bacterial and viral infections, including the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19.
It can also be important in COVID-19 because vitamin D decreases inflammation, which often gets out of hand in COVID-19 patients.
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