An essential nutrient, Vitamin D plays an important role in keeping a number of the body's systems healthy. Besides promoting healthy bones and teeth, vitamin D also supports immune, brain and nervous system health, regulates insulin levels, and supports lung and cardiovascular function. It is primarily generated in the human body through exposure to sunlight, though it also can be acquired through certain foods, such as oily foods, red meat, egg yolks, and fortified milks and juices.
Dr, Habib Sadeghi, DO states,
“..”it’s central to regulating the body’s immune response by interacting with immune cells that produce vitamin D-activating enzymes. This way, it ensures the immune system remains in balance and reacts appropriately to threats. Vitamin D is known to have potent antimicrobial properties and historically was used to successfully treat infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and leprosy.”
In addition, quarantine could be associated with less time spent outdoors, less sun-exposure, and reduced production of vitamin D as a result of lower levels of 7-dehydrocholesterol in the skin.
In 2017, a systematic review and meta-analysis of data on 10,933 patients from 25 randomized, controlled trials concluded that vitamin D supplementation was strongly protective against acute respiratory tract infection among all participants.
It was also found that approximately 58% of COVID-19 mortality can be explained by severe deficiency in vitamin D. Deficiency is more common among those who smoke, are obese, or have diabetes, and have hihg blood pressure- all chronic health conditions that have been associated with increased risks of COVID-19.
Check out this article for more in depth information linking the two and what results studies have found! https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2775003
Make sure you are getting enough vitamin D to support your lifestyle and body. Ask us our recommended brand and talk to the doctor about dosage to help support your body!
Sincerely, Dr June Shell
