Can Vitamin D be Considered a Therapeutic Agent for COVID-19?

Published on January 29, 2021

Video Friday: Vitamin D and COVID 19: The Evidence for Prevention and Treatment of Coronavirus (SARS CoV 2)

It’s Video Friday! Today’s video is a bit longer than what we have previously shared, but it is definitely worth watching and sharing with anyone interested in vitamin D! It is an easy-to-follow, excellent review of the evidence supporting the importance of vitamin D for our health, especially during this COVID-19 pandemic.

In this video, Professor Roger Seheult, MD explains the role vitamin D may have in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. It contains excellent illustrations on how vitamin D works, summarizes the best available data and clinical trials on vitamin D, respiratory diseases, and COVID-19, discusses vitamin D dosage recommendations, and more.

Please take a moment to watch and share the video along with our detailed information below.

Watch the Video

After watching the video, be sure to make note of our added details below!

Watch Now

Vitamin D – A Therapeutic Agent in the Fight Against COVID?

Here is a quick summary of what this video discusses, along with additional information and details about vitamin D:

Starting with Some Vitamin D Basics

Vitamin D is a hormone AND a vitamin
Vitamin D has the function of changing the way cells behave (from the genetic level as well)
Vitamin D receptors exist in all cell types (See our new blog series!)

Why is Vitamin D Deficiency an Issue?

Each individual can only produce enough vitamin D if getting enough sunlight or getting enough vitamin D from a dietary/supplement form
A majority of the population lacks sufficient sunlight/UVB exposure
See an excellent map of the United States showing who can and cannot make vitamin D in winter months (at 8:42)
Studies have repeatedly shown that less sunlight exposure correlates with an increased incidence of viral infections, such as the flu

Click to Enlarge & Print

BMI, race, age, and chronic conditions such as kidney disease are a few of several other factors contributing to an increased risk of deficiency

Review of Vitamin D and Respiratory Tract Infections

Published research
Roles of vitamin D in the immune system, actions on our immune cells

Vitamin D levels – how to define deficiency, insufficiency, etc. (12:30)

Review of the Evidence of Vitamin D Deficiency (age, race, BMI, disagreement in supplementation amounts by ‘the experts’) (13:20)

Review of Evidence of Vitamin D and Respiratory Diseases Before COVID-19 (16:20)

Review of Vitamin D and COVID-19 Research (22:00)

Risk factors for COVID are similar to risk factors for vitamin D deficiency
Observational data shows a strong correlation between vitamin D deficiency and COVID-19 positivity, outcomes (when looking at vitamin D levels both before and at time of active infection)
Association vs Cause; a randomized controlled trial by Castillo et al. (41:05)
Bolus dose results (one dose of 200,000 IU at admission) showed no difference in outcomes – important to take vitamin D daily, weekly at very least (44:45)
Correlation between COVID-19 Severity, Inflammation, and Vitamin D Levels (47:15)

Conclusion: Must Take Vitamin D Seriously!

Review of food fortification, dietary intake, supplementation recommendations, etc.
The risk of vitamin D toxicity – Extremely Rare! (52:10)

The take home message? Vitamin D has been shown to have a significant effect on COVID-19 infection and outcomes, and taking vitamin D seriously (as in taking ACTION) is especially important during the winter when vitamin D levels tend to be lowest. Supplement and test make sure you’re not deficient!

Are You Getting Enough Vitamin D & Other Immune Boosting Nutrients?

Everyone needs vitamin D! Below is a guide for how much you might need, and who may need more. Your levels can be tested safely at home – order your home test kit today.

Click to Enlarge & Print

By joining the GrassrootsHealth projects, you are not only contributing valuable information to our study, but you are also gaining knowledge about how you could improve your own health through measuring and tracking your nutrient status, and educating yourself on how to improve it. Do you know what your status of vitamin D, omega-3s, and other essential nutrients is? Could your levels be improved? Test now to find out!

We now have a NEW GIFTING SERVICE that allows you to quickly send ‘Gift Cards’ to friends, family and coworkers who you consider might need immediate access to testing, and to Claim the Joy of Your Health TODAY. Give the gift today!

What does the Research Say about Vitamin D & COVID-19?

It’s TIME to start saving lives! If you can help PREVENT the majority of the death, it’s time! What’s it costing you/us not to take action NOW?

There is much published research that supports a clear link between vitamin D and COVID-19 showing that higher vitamin D levels are related to:

a decreased risk of testing positive for COVID-19

increased viral SARS-CoV-2 RNA clearance

better clinical outcomes among patients with COVID-19

less severe COVID-19 disease

decreased risk of death due to COVID-19

Be sure to educate yourself on the benefits and importance of vitamin D for immune health, and take steps to ensure you and your loved ones are getting enough.

You can review all of the COVID-19 and immune health information we have shared on this page.

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!