Terrifying chart shows how Covid-19 patients who end up in hospital may die if they have a vitamin D deficiency

Nearly 99 per cent of Covid-19 patients who are vitamin D deficient die, according to a terrifying study that adds to mounting evidence that the 'sunshine' nutrient could be a coronavirus life-saver. Indonesian researchers analysed hospital records of 780 people who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes Covid-19.



Results revealed 98.9 per cent of infected patients defined as vitamin D deficient — below 20ng/ml — died. Yet this fell to just 4.1 per cent for patients who had enough of the nutrient.

Researchers warned the study was not definitive, however, because the patients with high vitamin D levels were healthier and younger.

It comes as health chiefs are urgently reviewing the use of vitamin D as a coronavirus lifesaver, with several studies suggesting that Covid-19 patients are far more likely to die if they have a deficiency.

One investigation – carried out by Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge – found European countries with lower vitamin D levels have had significantly more pandemic casualties.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence is conducting a 'rapid evidence review' of the issue – and publication is expected as early as next week.

The Indonesian study was not associated with experts from any university, unlike most Covid-19 research.

All five researchers, led by Prabowo Raharusuna, were listed as 'independent'. No details of their scientific backgrounds were provided in the paper.

The research — published in April — has yet to be peer-reviewed by fellow scientists, a process that often uncovers flaws in studies.

The team found vitamin D-deficient patients were 10 times more likely to die when age, gender and co-morbidities were taken into account.

They wrote in the paper: 'When controlling for age, sex, and comorbidity, vitamin D status is strongly associated with Covid-19 mortality outcome of cases.'

And they called for randomised controlled trials — considered the gold-standard of scientific research — to prove whether vitamin D can be a life-saver.

Update:
  • The study has since been withdrawn following criticism about its methodology
  • Did not take into account patients were older and likely to have health woes

One in five British adults and one in six children is lacking in vitamin D, thanks to poor diets, indoor lifestyles and lack of sunshine.

Experts estimate around 1billion people worldwide are deficient in the vitamin, with the figures having been described as a 'global public health issue'.

Some scientists fear that the lockdown and months of indoor living have cut levels even further.

Some ethnic groups tend to be at higher risk because their skin is less able to make the vitamin in response to sunlight.

Older people are also in danger because the body gets less efficient at producing the vitamin with age.

Vitamin D tablets are extremely cheap – they cost as little as 3p a day – and Public Health England issued guidance in April advising everyone to take the supplements.

A trial being led by Professor Adrian Martineau of Queen Mary University in London is investigating how certain lifestyle factors – including vitamin D levels – affect susceptibility to the virus.

'Vitamin D could almost be thought of as a designer drug for helping the body to handle viral respiratory infections,' he told The Guardian last night.

A review from the University of Surrey, which was published in the British Medical Journal last month, found that vitamin D should be seen as part of a healthy lifestyle but not as a 'magic bullet' – because the evidence was not yet clear.

Dr Lee Smith, who led Anglia Ruskin's study, said: 'It has been shown to protect against acute respiratory infections, and older adults, the group most deficient in vitamin D, are also the ones most seriously affected by Covid-19.

A previous study found that 75 per cent of people in institutions, such as hospitals and care homes were severely deficient in vitamin D.'

A Public Health England spokesman said: 'NICE is working on a rapid evidence summary on vitamin D in the context of Covid-19 with support from Public Health England. This report will be published in due course.'

The NHS says the general consensus is levels of below 25nmol/L — the equivalent of 10ng/ml — in the blood indicate vitamin D deficiency.

This is thought to be the equivalent of taking around 10 micrograms of vitamin D a day.

The Institute of Medicine — a US health advisory body — states levels below 20ng/ml (50nmol/L) is a deficiency.

Large doses of vitamin D can be dangerous, with anything above 100 micrograms to be taken only under medical supervision.



Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Zinc Gluconate vs Zinc Picolinate: What's the Difference?

NAC vs NAD vs NR vs NMN vs Niacin: What Are the Differences?

10 Best NMN Supplements (2024 Review)

Dr. Zelenko's Z-Stack Vitamin Cocktail: Review 2024

18 Best Supplements to Reduce Cytokine Storm: Advanced Guide (2023 Review)

Best Cancer Centers in Malaysia - 2024

6 Best EECP Centres in Malaysia 2023: Price and Review

Vitamin D 25 Hydroxy and Vitamin D 1 25 Dihydroxy: What's the Difference?

Best Memory Enhancing Supplements for Seniors 2024

Glutathione vs NAC: What's the Difference? (2024)