Point of view: Should COVID-19 patients be supplemented with vitamin D?. (October 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Annweiler, Cédric; Cao, Zhijian; Sabatier, Jean-Marc
• Is Part Of: Maturitas. Volume 140(2020)
• Page Start: 24
• Page End: 26
• Publication Date: 2020-10
• Subjects: COVID-19 -- SARS-CoV-2 -- Vitamin D -- Causality -- Biomarker -- Treatment; Climacteric -- Periodicals; Menopause -- Periodicals; Climacteric -- Periodicals; Geriatrics -- Periodicals; Menopause -- Periodicals; Middle Aged -- Periodicals; Climatère -- Périodiques; Ménopause -- Périodiques; Climacterium; Climacteric; Menopause; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 612.66
• DOI: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2020.06.003
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0378-5122

Abstract

Highlights: Vitamin D may mitigate COVID-19 through its effects on gene expression. Increased vitamin D concentration is associated with better prognosis in COVID-19 cases. The benefits of vitamin D supplementation in COVID-19 patients remain to be determined. The use of vitamin D supplements as an adjuvant treatment for COVID-19 needs to be examined urgently. Abstract: Using Hill's methodology for exploring causality, we aimed to determine in early May 2020 whether evidence supports vitamin D as a biological determinant of COVID-19 outcomes. Vitamin D is a secosteroid hormone theoretically able to reduce COVID-19 risk through regulation of (i) the renin-angiotensin system, (ii) cellular innate and adaptive immunity, and (iii) physical barriers. Inverse associations were found between 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations and COVID-19 incidence and mortality. Randomized controlled trials testing vitamin D supplementation in the treatment of COVID-19 are in progress. Positive results in such studies would encourage the use of vitamin D supplements as an adjuvant treatment in COVID-19.