In the era of COVID-19, most people want to know how they can naturally boost their immune response and maximize their chances of staying healthy. Globally, more than 6.15 million people have confirmed cases of COVID-19, and more than 2.64 million of those people have a confirmed recovery. These numbers are staggering, and while social distancing orders have been able to slow the spread of COVID-19, we’re certainly not out of the woods yet.
Here at HiLife Vitamins, we’ve been keeping an eye on how exactly vitamins and nutrition can play a role in COVID-19. New research out of Northwestern University now says that Vitamin D appears to play a role in the mortality rates of people who contract COVID-19. These researchers now say that “patients with severe deficiency are twice as likely to experience severe complications, including death.” So we wanted to take a closer look at Vitamin D. Experts have already identified the fact that Vitamin D deficiency is actually a global problem.
What is Vitamin D?
Vitamin D is “a fat-soluble vitamin used by the body for normal bone development and maintenance by increasing the absorption of calcium, magnesium, and phosphate,” according to medical experts. What this means is that it’s a crucial vitamin that our bodies need for vital functions. Our bodies naturally produce Vitamin D when we’re exposed to sunlight, and it is also found in certain foods. Despite this, Vitamin D deficiency has been identified as a “major global health issue” and “about 1 billion people worldwide have Vitamin D deficiency, while 50% of the population has Vitamin D insufficiency.”
Vitamin D and COVID-19
The new research regarding COVID-19 and Vitamin D is the product of a global study. Scientists at Northwestern University analyzed data from around the world, including China, France, Germany, Italy, Iran, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States. Patients who had severe Vitamin D deficiency were twice as likely to experience extreme complications from COVID-19, including death. Even more stunningly, the researchers concluded that:
“Our analysis shows that it might be as high as cutting the mortality rate in half,” Backman said. “It will not prevent a patient from contracting the virus, but it may reduce complications and prevent death in those who are infected.”
Vitamin D levels clearly can play a role in how an individual experiences COVID-19, and how they recover. Vitamin D deficiency is also a widespread, global problem. But just to note, the researchers were also careful to caution that “people should not take excessive doses of vitamin D, which might come with negative side effects.”
If you’re interested in Vitamin D supplements, we carry an extensive stock right here on our website, and you can easily have these supplements delivered right to your door. Our goal is to help you optimize your health and wellness, and we believe that can be done through proper nutrition.
