Vitamin D and Covid‐19: From potential therapeutic effects to unanswered questions. (28th August 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Teymoori‐Rad, Majid; Marashi, Sayed Mahdi
• Is Part Of: Reviews in medical virology. Volume 31:Number 2(2021)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2020-08-28
• Subjects: COVID‐19 -- immune response -- Vitamin D; Medical virology -- Periodicals; Review Literature -- Periodicals; Virus Diseases -- Periodicals; Viruses -- Periodicals; 616.0194
• DOI: 10.1002/rmv.2159
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1052-9276

Abstract

Summary: Evidence suggests that vitamin D supplementation could potentially be effective either in treatment or prevention of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid‐19). Indeed, several studies and trials have begun to investigate the impact of vitamin D supplementation on patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) infection. In this review, we focus on the potential mechanisms of vitamin D in the pathogenesis of Covid‐19. We consider whether deficiency of vitamin D may be one of the underlying biological factors that could explain the excess mortality seen among non‐Caucasians. We also raise several important questions which need to be addressed to provide a clear picture of the extent to which vitamin D supplementation may benefit patients with Covid‐19, particularly those with underlying risk factors.