Vitamin D Deficiency and COVID-19 Disease Severity Among Hospitalized Patients

Published on July 13, 2020

The evidence for a relationship between vitamin D, immune function, and COVID-19 outcomes continues to grow. Many studies have noted a relationship between circumstances in which vitamin D deficiency is more prevalent (such as obesity, climatic factors and geographic location, darker skin, and certain health conditions), and the increased odds of COVID-19 severity and mortality. In addition, studies on COVID-19 patient data have shown an increased risk for COVID-19 incidence and severity among those with lower vitamin D levels, or decreased severity among patients receiving vitamin D supplementation, and more continue to be published.

Hospitalized Patients with Lower Vitamin D were Worse Off

A newly published study by Panagiotou et al. examined data from 134 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 to determine if baseline vitamin D levels were related to severity of the disease. Those patients identified as having a vitamin D level of 16 ng/ml (40 nmol/L) or less were eligible for treatment with a single large dose of vitamin D (100,000-300,000 IU, depending on baseline level), followed by either 800 or 1600 IU vitamin D daily; those with levels between 16-29 ng/ml (41-74 nmol/L) were eligible for treatment with 800 IU/day.

The study found that those patients admitted to the intensive treatment unit (ITU) due to more severe COVID-19 symptoms had lower vitamin D levels compared to those who did not require admission. Only 19% of the ITU patients had a vitamin D level of at least 20 ng/ml (50 nmol/L) compared to 39 % of non-ITU patients (p=0.02).

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Other factors related to intensive treatment unit (ITU) admission were hypertension, obesity, higher baseline respiratory rate, higher C-Reactive protein (CRP) levels, and interestingly, those younger in age (61 years vs 76 years old, p<0.001).

Ensure your 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.

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.

GrassrootsHealth Nutrient Research Institute is preparing to do a Community RCT with the use of our myData-myAnswers nutrient health system that over 15,000 people are already using for their health. We will 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. 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!