The relation of vitamin D deficiency and COVID-19

Abstract

Background. Given the role of vitamin D in many parts of the immune response; inverse relationship between its level in the population and morbidity for acute respiratory diseases and, in particular, for COVID‑19; meta-analysis data on the effectiveness of vitamin D supplements in the prevention of acute respiratory diseases; high rates of vitamin D deficiency in some areas, it may be recommended to use supplements of this vitamin for prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe COVID-19, although additional randomized clinical trials and meta-analyses are needed. Purpose – to systematize in the narrative review the current scientific information on the role of vitamin D and its deficiency in the development and treatment of coronavirus disease (COVID-19, SARS-COV-2). Materials and Methods. Publications were selected using keywords in PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Web of Science databases published over the period from 2016 to 2022. Results. Based on meta-analyses of the use of vitamin D supplementation for the prevention of other respiratory infections, the optimal dose for adults is 400–1000 IU per day. Children and adolescents who consume less than 1 liter of vitamin D-fortified milk per day are recommended to take an additional 400 IU of vitamin D daily. Breastfed babies or those consuming less than 1 liter of formula per day should receive the same dose. For infants, it is also necessary to prevent alimentary rickets. In patients hospitalized with COVID19, baseline serum 25(OH)D should be determined and, if necessary, increased to a level of at least >30 ng/mL (optimally 40–60 ng/mL), especially when baseline The maintenance dose to achieve optimal concentrations of vitamin D varies from 2000 to 3000 IU/day depending on the age and clinical condition of the patient; if it is not possible to determine the initial concentration of 25(OH)D in patients with COVID19, a starting appointment of vitamin D orally at a dose of 20003000 IU/day would be appropriate. Conclusions. Prospects of further research are related to in-depth investigate of the matter of the relation of vitamin D deficiency and COVID-19 in systematic reviews with meta-analysis of populational prospective randomized controlled trials.

Keywords

• vitamin d calciferol avitaminosis covid-19 therapeutics prevention