Vitamin D
Could Vitamin D prevent COVID-19?
Vitamin D has been proven to reduce risk of getting common cold. It also enhances cellular immunity, modulates adaptive immunity, and enhances expression of antioxidation-related genes. Hence, several authors proposed Vitamin D supplementation to prevent and treat Covid2019.
Do you know the function of Vitamin D?
The major part of the vitamin circulating in the blood is neither D2 or D3 but the metabolite 25, hydroxy cholecalciferol (25-HCC) to which the ingested vitamin is converted in the liver. A more potent metabolite 1, 25 – dihydroxycholecalciferol (1,25-DHCC) or calcitriol is synthesized in the kidney. It appears in the intestinal mucosal cells, bones and skeletal muscle for regulating calcium absorption and metabolism. Vitamin D is, therefore a precursor of true hormone 1, 25-DHCC which performs a vital function. Vitamin D through the action of these active metabolites performs the following functions:
Absorption of calcium from digested food.
Re-absorption of phosphate in the renal tubule.
Calcification of osteoblast cells of growing skeletal structures.
Did you know vitamin D plays an important role in preventing COVID-19?
Vitamin D supplementation might be a useful measure to reduce risk. Those mechanisms include inducing cathelicidins and defensins that can lower viral replication rates and reducing concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines that produce the inflammation that injures the lining of the lungs, leading to pneumonia, as well as increase concentrations of anti-inflammatory cytokines. Several observational studies and clinical trials reported that vitamin D supplementation reduced risk of influenza, whereas others did not. Vitamin D supplementation also enhances the expression of genes related to antioxidation. The increased glutathione production spares the use of ascorbic acid or vitamin C. which has antimicrobial activities and has been proposed to prevent and treat COVID-19.
Here are some natural sources of vitamin D which can be used to prevent COVID-19 :
1. Fatty Fish: Fatty fish like salmon, trout, sardines, tuna, and mackerel, are higher in fat-based nutrients. Fatty fish also boast omega-3 fatty acids, which are crucial for optimal body and brain function and strongly linked to a reduced risk of many diseases. Fatty fish may Help Prevent and Treat Depression, Boost Brain Health, Essential for Growth and Development, lower your risk of heart attacks and strokes.
2. Egg yolks: Most of the protein in an egg is found in the white, the fat, vitamins, and minerals are found mostly in the yolk. Vitamin D levels in egg yolk depend on sun exposure and the vitamin D content of chicken feed. When given the same feed, pasture-raised chickens that roam outside in the sunlight produce eggs with levels 3–4 times higher. Additionally, eggs from chickens given vitamin-D-enriched feed may have up to 6,000 IU of vitamin D per yolk. That’s a whopping 7 times the DV. Choosing eggs either from chickens raised outside or marketed as high in vitamin D can be a great way to meet your daily requirements.
3. Cod Liver Oil: Cod liver oil is one of the best sources of vitamin D, as just 1 tablespoon has 1,360 IUs, or 34 micrograms. It also has vitamin A, which helps the immune system and bone growth, and omega-3 fatty acids, which are good for the heart.
4. Fortified Milk: Most of the vitamin D in the average diet comes from fortified foods. For example: cow milk, Soy milk. All milk in the country is fortified with 100 IUs per cup, or 2.5 micrograms. One cup of vitamin D-fortified 2% milk has 120 IUs, or 2.9 micrograms of vitamin D.
5. Mushrooms: Mushrooms are the only good plant source of vitamin D. It can synthesize this vitamin when exposed to UV light. However, mushrooms produce vitamin D2, whereas animals produce vitamin D3. Though vitamin D2 helps raise blood levels of vitamin D, it may not be as effective as vitamin D3. Wild mushrooms are excellent sources of vitamin D2. On the other hand, commercially grown mushrooms are often grown in the dark and contain very little D2.
However, certain brands are treated with ultraviolet (UV light). These mushrooms can provide 130–450 IU of vitamin D2 per 3.5 ounces (100 grams) (31).
