While reading the Friday, April 17, 2020 issue of the WALL STREET JOURNAL I came up this article on Vitamin-D3 and the coronavirus. I’ve been taking Vitamin-D3 supplements (2000 IU) daily for 20 years or so. Some research suggests Vitamin-D3 promotes bone health and strengthens our immune systems. Here’s the article from the WSJ. You be the judge:
Vitamin D and Coronavirus Disparities
Supplements may promote immunity, especially in people with darker skin.
By Vatsal G. ThakkarApril 16, 2020 7:02 pm ET
Black Americans are dying of Covid-19 at a higher rate than whites. Socioeconomic factors such as gaps in access to health care no doubt play a role. But another possible factor has been largely overlooked: vitamin D deficiency that weakens the immune system.
Researchers last week released the first data supporting this link. They found that the nations with the highest mortality rates—Italy, Spain and France—also had the lowest average vitamin D levels among countries affected by the pandemic.
Vitamin D is produced by a reaction in the skin to the ultraviolet rays in sunlight. Many Americans are low in vitamin D, but those with darker skin are at a particular disadvantage because melanin inhibits the vitamin’s production. As an Indian-American, my skin type is Fitzpatrick IV, or “moderate brown.” Compared with my white friends, I need double or triple the sun exposure to synthesize the same amount of vitamin D, so I supplement with 5,000 international units of vitamin D3 daily, which maintains my level in the normal range. Most African-Americans are Fitzpatrick type V or VI, so they would need even more.
This requires further study, but earlier research is suggestive. In 2018 a longitudinal studyby researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital looked at whether vitamin D supplementation had any health benefits, specifically in regard to heart disease and cancer. The overall conclusion was that it didn’t, for most people. Yet buried in the results was one that should have made headlines: Vitamin D supplementation in African-Americans reduced cancer risk 23%. How? Cancer cells develop regularly in most animals, including humans, as the result of toxic injuries or glitches in DNA replication, but a healthy immune system destroys them. There is evidence that low vitamin D levels make the immune system go blind.
Dozens of studies confirm that deficiency is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, which disproportionately afflicts African-Americans. A major contributor to heart disease is inflammation that targets blood vessels, forming the plaques that block blood flow. (Raising vitamin D levels with supplements hasn’t been shown to reverse this effect.)
Black Americans are also twice as likely to develop Type 2 diabetes as whites. Here, too, we find an immune connection. Insulin resistance, the harbinger of Type 2 diabetes, appears linked to high levels of circulating cytokines, the same pro-inflammatory proteins implicated in Covid-19 mortality. Many scientists are coming to view Type 2 diabetes as an autoimmune disorder, like Type 1.
History can also be a guide. A 2009 study examined sun exposure and fatality rates during the 1918-19 Spanish flu pandemic, which killed an estimated 50 million world-wide. Disparities in access to health care were minimal then, since treatment consisted mostly in supportive measures and convalescence. Antivirals, vaccines, intensive-care units and ventilators didn’t exist.
The U.S. erected emergency hospitals—one of which, the Camp Brooks Open Air Hospital in Massachusetts, had the unique distinction of being an outdoor recovery unit. The mortality rate for patients there fell from 40% to 13% when they were moved outside. Sunlight might have proved to be literally the best disinfectant.
Dr. Thakkar, a psychiatrist, is founder of Reimbursify.
Yes. I take D3 with Calcium, Magnesium and Zinc.
Jeff, same here. But, I’m thinking about upping the Vitamin D3 after reading this article.
The very first time I saw my current Primary Care Physician 10+ years ago he told me I should be taking a D3 supplement, and I’ve been taking it ever since. I don’t remember why he said to take it and have no idea whether it’s doing me any good, but I’m pretty sure it’s not doing me any harm.
Michael, good for your Primary Care Physician. Vitamin D3 helps our immune system.
Yes! A couple of years ago, the bloodwork for my annual physical showed that my Vitamin D levels were too low. So I added Vitamin D to my daily intake: Multivitamin for women over 55, calcium, biotin, fish oil, and vitamin D.
Deb, well done! It looks like Vitamin D3 is critical for good health!
Ali Karim made several suggestions when this started. That was one of them. Another was drinking green tea. I love flavored tea, but had to look hard for green tea with enough flavor for me. As I limit my caffeine consumption, I drink one cup of green tea daily. Another suggestion I heard was to drink HOT beverages, something to do with phlegm (keeping it loose?) I’ve also heard selenium (?) is good in this pandemic.
I just wish someone would recommend (dark) chocolate. I’d be set!!!
Maggie, Diane and I eat a piece of DOVE Dark Chocolate daily…just in case.
Yep.
Rick, good for you! Who knew Vitamin D3 was a key factor in the fight against coronavirus.
Also heard the Vitamin C helps.
Patti, I’m a big believer in Vitamin C, too!
I’ve been taking Vitamins B, C, and D3 for several years on recommendation from my doctor. I also took Iron until he told me to stop. I don’t know how much this stop helps but it doesn’t hurt.
Steve, I’m convinced key vitamins can do a lot to improve our health.
Not a vitamin guy! Note the article hedges its bet with terms like may and might and could!
Bob, not everybody reacts to vitamins in the same way.
I take LOTS of Vitamin D, which probably accounts for my fabulous health.
Seriously – I’ve been taking Vitamin D for years.
Beth, good for you! A friend of mine just had a heart attack. He recovered and had a stent inserted. My friend is a lap-swimmer at the Pool and looked like he was in Perfect Shape. He asked his cardiologist, “If I’m swimming every day, have good blood pressure and cholesterol numbers, why did I have a heart attack?”
My friend’s cardiologist replied, “If you hadn’t been taking Vitamin D3, you would have had that heart attack at 42 instead of 62.”