Special supplement of Vitamin D can cure COVID-19, scientists of Spain claim. Photo Courtesy – SciTechDaily
Can the special supplement of Vitamin D cure COVID-19 infections?
There are several contradictions on whether vitamin D can reduce corona infection. Researchers say that vitamin D has certain properties that can prevent the spread of the virus in the body. However, taking vitamin D drugs or supplements without expert advice can have the opposite effect.
Scientists in Spain have claimed in their new study that special supplement of vitamin D like Calcifediol can reduce the death rate in corona infection. This drug therapy also reduces the risk of acute respiratory problems in patients.
How Vitamin D is produced in human body
The study by the scientists at KU Leuven University in Spain and Belgium was published in the journal ‘Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology’. According to the opinion of the researchers, Calcifediol is a type of prehormone produced in the liver. This hormone can reduce inflammation in the body and can be absorbed into the bloodstream very quickly. Scientists claim that if the supplement can be taken in addition to the natural way hormones are made, especially in this corona situation, the body will develop immunity to prevent the virus. However, researchers have warned also that side effects can occur if the dose is taken without the expert advice.
Scientist Jose Manuel Cuaseda Gomez says the hormone is made by hydroxylation of vitamin D3 in the liver. In the kidneys, Calciferol is converted to an enzyme called Calcitriol, which is a type of secosteroid. Experts say that taking Calcifediol supplement made from vitamin D3 relieves the patient from the severe respiratory syndrome. Experiments have shown that giving this supplement to a patient with Asthma or ‘Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease’ does not cause any infection in his lungs. In addition, acute respiratory problems are eliminated.
What did the scientists observe?
Researcher Jose claims that 50 COVID-19 patients were treated with hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin. But, the results obtained by using this supplement were many times greater. Only one in 50 patients had to be given intensive care after a certain dose of therapy. The rest of the patients with infection were improved. He claimed that even patients with ventilator support had reduced breathing difficulties.
Read: Coronavirus: Death toll in Saudi Arabia has been steadily decreasing
The role of vitamin D in boosting our immunity is not unknown. It has been found that most COVID-19 patients have vitamin D deficiency in their body. However, the scientists are conducting various experiments on how to reduce COVID infection with vitamin D supplementation.
Scientists say that if the body has the right amount of vitamin D, the risk of infection is greatly reduced. Vitamin D deficiency is called VDD in medical terminology. It has been found that about 70 per cent of the girls between the ages of 6 and 18 suffer from VDD. Moreover, men and women over the age of 60 years are also victims of this disease.
Scientific research on Vitamin D in relation with COVID-19
The prime effects of severe SARS-CoV-2 infections are lymphopenia or lymphocytopenia. In several scientific research on mouse and human, the scientists found that Vitamin D when utilized in lung tissues, it played a protective effect on interstitial pneumonitis. Interstitial pneumonitis is a condition that creates lung inflammation – leading to ‘Pulmonary Fibrosis’ i.e. building up of scar tissues in the lungs. The condition of Pulmonary Fibrosis makes the lung tissue thicker and stiff. It becomes difficult for you to maintain normal breathing. As the condition worsens, you feel shorter and shorter of breath continuously.
Several scientific research have shown that Vitamin D plays an important role in local ‘respiratory homeostasis’. ‘Respiratory homeostasis’ is normal respiratory system maintained in two ways like a gas exchange and regulation of blood pH. Vitamin D insufficiency can, therefore, be involved in ‘Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome’ (including shortness of breath, rapid breathing, and bluish skin colouration etc.) and heart failure. These are the effects usually seen in severely ill COVID-19 patients.
Vitamin D deficiency fosters the ‘renin-angiotensin’ system which may lead to chronic cardiovascular disease (CVD) and decreased lung function. Those who have comorbidities like this use to get illness in a higher percentage in COVID-19.
Vitamin D acts as a protective immune response
Many research has supported the immunomodulatory characteristics of Vitamin D. There were several observations which showed that Vitamin D played an important role in maintaining the immune system of the human body. It acts like a protective immune response combatting respiratory microbes like COVID-19 and acute respiratory tract infections.
It has been observed that about 80 per cent of girls between the ages of 6 and 18 suffer from VDD. Moreover, men and women over the age of 60 are also victims of this disease. However, experienced doctors will be able to tell you the dose of vitamin D supplement to be taken only after the health examination of the patient. If an infection is caught, it is important to take the medicine as advised by the doctor.
Conclusion
However, experienced doctors will be able to tell you the dose of vitamin D supplement to be taken only after the health examination. If an infection has occurred, it is important to take a special supplement of Vitamin D as advised by the doctor.
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