https://www.endocrine.org/news-and-advocacy/news-room/2020/study-finds-over-80-percent-of-covid19-patients-have-vitamin-d-deficiency
Washington, DC October 27, 2020
Vitamin D deficiency was more prevalent in men
Over 80 percent of 200 COVID-19 patients in a hospital in Spain have vitamin D deficiency, according to a new study published in the Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
Vitamin D is a hormone the kidneys produce that controls blood calcium concentration and impacts the immune system. Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to a variety of health concerns, although research is still underway into why the hormone impacts other systems of the body. Many studies point to the beneficial effect of vitamin D on the immune system, especially regarding protection against infections.
“One approach is to identify and treat vitamin D deficiency, especially in high-risk individuals such as the elderly, patients with comorbidities, and nursing home residents, who are the main target population for the COVID-19,” said study co-author José L. Hernández, Ph.D., of the University of Cantabria in Santander, Spain. “Vitamin D treatment should be recommended in COVID-19 patients with low levels of vitamin D circulating in the blood since this approach might have beneficial effects in both the musculoskeletal and the immune system.”
The researchers found 80 percent of 216 COVID-19 patients at the Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla had vitamin D deficiency, and men had lower vitamin D levels than women. COVID-19 patients with lower vitamin D levels also had raised serum levels of inflammatory markers such as ferritin and D-dimer.
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[–] MaggieMaySmith 0 points 3 points 3 points (+3|-0) ago (edited ago)
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1) You need cholesterol to convert sunshine which hits your skin to vitamin D. What are most seniors on in the Western world?- Statin drugs to reduce cholesterol.
2) Most seniors in aged care don't even get any natural sunlight. In Australia seniors in aged care and many still in their own home don't even get vitamin D supplements to prevent bone fractures! Doctors now want to give them injections of "prolia" (a prescription drug) every 6 months to maintain bone density and prevent fractures.
3) It is well known that vitamin D or exposure to UV lights helps prevent respiratory infections. In the 60s many children around the world who lived in colder climates spent time in special goggles, standing in underwear only in front of a red lamp. (Myself included) .
4) Since President Reagan got skin cancer- half the world has been using sunblocks or sunscreens to prevent skin cancers- not realising that lack of vitamin D contributes to MS, depression, respiratory illnesses, poor immune response in general as well as an increased risk of bone fractures.
If we think we are now living in Orwell's "1984" let's just add that we are also living in Huxley's "Brave New World".