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Published on September 7, 2020

Compared to 50% of hospitalized COVID-19 patients in the control group, only 2% of those receiving 25(OH)D required ICU admission

Early on in the COVID-19 pandemic, GrassrootsHealth, collaborated with Dr. William Grant and others, to publish a paper titled Evidence that Vitamin D Supplementation Could Reduce Risk of Influenza and COVID-19 Infections and Deaths on the relationship between vitamin D, immune function, and viral infections of the upper respiratory system. We have also shared a wealth information on the role of vitamin D in immune system health and function, and reviewed many studies that have demonstrated the association between vitamin D and improved outcomes for acute respiratory disorders, such as Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS).

Now that there has been time for the planning, execution, and analysis of several trials on vitamin D and COVID-19 outcomes, studies are now being published that provide direct evidence of the effect of vitamin D supplementation on COVID-19 patients, and the association of vitamin D intake and/or status on disease severity and death.

Recent Trial Shows Unique and Promising Results

One of the latest studies on vitamin D and COVID-19, published by Castillo et al., enrolled 76 COVID-19 patients hospitalized with symptoms of acute respiratory infection and randomized them to the vitamin D treatment group (n=50) or the control group (n=26). There were 45 men and 31 women with an average age of 53 years. Their goal was to determine if early intervention with 25(OH)D, the metabolite of vitamin D used to measure vitamin D status, could improve outcomes of COVID-19 and reduce the need for Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission.

Both groups received the standard care for COVID-19, consisting of a combination treatment of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin, with additional standard treatments as necessary. The vitamin D treatment group also received a .532 mg dose of oral calcifediol (25(OH)D) at admission, followed by .266 mg doses on days 3 and 7, and then once weekly until either discharged or admitted to the ICU. Calcifediol, or 25-hydroxyvitamin D3, was given due to its reliable intestinal absorption and to omit the need for hydroxylation of vitamin D3 to 25(OH)D in the liver, therefore leading to a more rapid improvement in 25(OH)D levels and availability.

What were the outcomes of this study?

The study found that the administration of 25(OH)D at the early stages of COVID-19 significantly reduced the need for admission to the ICU, regardless of existing comorbidities, as illustrated in the chart below.

Click to Enlarge & Print

In fact, of the 26 patients in the control group, 13 (50%) required admission to the ICU with two resulting deaths, while only one patient out of the 50 (2%) in the vitamin D group required admission to the ICU, with no resulting deaths.

How is your 25(OH)D status?

Could a vitamin D deficiency be putting a damper on your immune response? Do you know your levels of other immune-important nutrients as well? Find out by testing your vitamin D (25(OH)D), with or without your omega-3s, magnesium and other essential elements (including copper and zinc), as well as your inflammation levels, with the new Immune Boost home test kit offered by GrassrootsHealth. Measuring levels is the only way to know if you are supporting your immune system with proper nutrient status, and whether additional changes should be made with supplementation, dietary changes, or both.

Enroll now with the Full Immune Boost Panel (which includes tests for vitamin D, Omega-3 Index, magnesium, zinc, selenium, copper, and hsCRP), and get 10% off when you use coupon code BoostTen at checkout.

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.

Do you know what your vitamin D level is? Be sure to test today to find out, and take steps to keep it within a target of 40-60 ng/ml or 100-150 nmol/L! Give your immune system the nutrients it needs to support a healthy you and protect yourself from unnecessary diseases, especially COVID-19.

GrassrootsHealth Nutrient Research Institute has launched the new Immune Boost project with the use of our myData-myAnswers nutrient health system that over 15,000 people are already using for their health. Specific markers that influence immune health are suggested for testing as part of this project including:

  • Vitamin D
  • Omega-3 Index
  • Essential elements magnesium, selenium, and zinc
  • hsCRP

We hope to demonstrate how one can use the Nutrient Research Model established by Dr. Robert Heaney to establish the effect of vitamin D serum levels of at least 40 ng/ml (100 nmol/L) on risk reduction with different ethnicities in the population. Status and intake of other nutrients will also be analyzed for any type of relationship to immune status and symptom severity. Please let us know if you’re interested in helping sponsor this project.

CLICK HERE for updates and new information about the project.

Through GrassrootsHealth Nutrient Research Institute, you can also test your essential elements magnesium, copper, zinc and selenium, toxins such as lead, mercury and cadmium, as well as your omega-3 levels, inflammation levels and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level. Find out your levels today! Log on to the test selection page (click the link below) to get your tests and see for yourself if your levels can be improved.

Make sure you track your results before and after, about every 6 months!

Click Here to Access the Test Page

How can I track my nutrient intake and levels over time?

To help you track your supplement use and nutrient levels, GrassrootsHealth has created the Personal Health Nutrient Decision System called

For each specific supplement, you can track what days you take it, how much, and many other details.  This will help you know your true supplemental intake and what patterns of use work for you to reach and maintain optimum nutrient levels. Check it out today!

How Can You Use this Information for YOUR Health?

Having and maintaining healthy vitamin D and other nutrient levels can help improve your health now and for your future. Measuring is the only way to make sure you are getting enough!

STEP 1 Order your at-home blood spot test kit to measure vitamin D and other nutrients of concern to you, such as omega-3s, magnesium, essential and toxic elements (zinc, copper, selenium, lead, cadmium, mercury); include hsCRP as a marker of inflammation or HbA1c for blood sugar health

STEP 2 Answer the online questionnaire as part of the GrassrootsHealth study

STEP 3 Using our educational materials and tools (such as our dose calculators), assess your results to determine if you are in your desired target range or if actions should be taken to get there

STEP 4 After 3-6 months of implementing your changes, re-test to see if you have achieved your target level(s)

Enroll in D*action and Build Your Custom Test Kit!