We turn to anything that increase our chances of survival, including supplements to boost our immunity. The demands for supplements has grown as people put their faith into it to elude COVID19. Vitamin D is the most common supplement consumed by people in this pandemic. But all of us have some questions regarding vitamin D, like;
Can it really protect us from COVID19?
What is the evidence and what is the danger if you are taking too much of it?
Why Vitamin D?
Vitamin D is very special, it has been associated with numerous health benefits. It is like one vitamin cures all. It has been established that vitamin D is important for bone and muscle along with calcium. It helps prevent osteoporosis. There is also growing evidence that vitamin D has a role in boosting the body's immune system.
A systematic review was published in 2017, they analyzed 25 randomized control trials concluded vitamin D helped prevent acute respiratory tract infections and because of that vitamin D is perhaps the most talked about vitamin during this pandemic.
Can vitamin D really protect us from COVID19??
Several research have been done to prove the protective effects of this vitamin against COVID 19. Some studies have shown that people who are hospitalized with severe COVID19 also have vitamin D deficiency. Studies have found that the relative risk of getting COVID19 was 1.77 times greater for patients who were vitamin D deficient compared with those with sufficient levels.
Furthermore the risk factors for developing severe COVID 19 are the same as tools for developing vitamin D deficiency. So it is difficult to tell if vitamin D deficiency itself is the cause of severe COVID19.
Is there strong evidence to support taking vitamin D during the pandemic?
A Cochrane review published a few months ago, it's probably the highest evidence so far to answer this question. It assessed the use of vitamin D as treatment for adults with confirmed COVID19 compared with a placebo. Three studies with 356 participants were analyzed in this review it concludes that there is not enough evidence to recommend taking vitamin D to fight off COVID19.
A review of research by NICE (national institute of health and care excellence) in the UK suggests there is no evidence to support taking vitamin D supplements to prevent or treat corona virus. However, it is reasonable to get enough of it for other health benefits. It is important to keep people as nutritionally fit as possible during this pandemic.
What is the recommended dietary intake for vitamin D?
The endocrine society regards vitamin D levels of between 30 to 100 nanograms per milliliter as sufficient. It recommends vitamin D intake of 1005 to 2000 international unit per day for adults.
Michael Holik (an expert in vitamin D research) in his paper, recommends us to maintain serum vitamin d at least 30 nanograms per milliliter and preferably between 40 to 60 nanogram per milliliter. It is to minimize the risk of COVID19 infection and its severity.
This recommendation sounds very sensible with more people staying indoors during the pandemic and get less sun exposure. Some may have been more deprived of vitamin D. People with dark skin may not be getting enough even if they spend time outdoors. This group of people may want to speak to their doctors and check their baseline vitamin D levels.
High dose vitamin D is it safe?
Some experts recommend high dose vitamin D of 10,000 international unit per day or even more to reach serum vitamin D levels of more than 100 nanograms per milliliter during this pandemic.
If you look at your vitamin D blood test report, it is always mentioned that possible toxicity can occur above a level of 100 nanograms per milliliter. so it is prudent to adhere to this parameter to avoid vitamin D poisoning. Those people taking high dose of vitamin D must be careful because vitamin D is fat soluble unlike vitamin C, which is water soluble. There is a risk of getting too much that can lead to toxicity which can be harmful.
A lot of people believe taking supplements is safe, supplements do not come with a prescription or warning about the possible side effects. Actually they also contain active ingredients that can have strong biological effects and can cause toxicity that can be dangerous and even life threatening. Vitamin D is by far the most common cause of poisoning, especially if your serum vitamin D level is above 100 nanograms per milliliter. So do not underestimate vitamin D toxicity.
What are the signs of vitamin d toxicity vitamin D toxicity is related to hypercalcemia?
Vitamin D and calcium work together in our body to protect our bones. Vitamin D is responsible for absorption of calcium from the blood and help its deposition in bones. High level of vitamin D in blood may cause hypercalcemia.
In cases with vitamin D toxicity, most patients experience nausea, vomiting, constipation. Some complain of muscle weakness and even depression, decreased appetite and dehydration. You feel thirsty and consequently drink a lot of water, these are signs of vitamin D poisoning. Very non-specific if you are unwell, you will have at least one of these symptoms therefore, many people never think these symptoms occur because of vitamin D toxicity.
Vitamin D overdose in the long run can cause complications such as kidney stones even kidney failure and calcium deposits in the coronary arteries, heart fats, arrhythmia or irregular heartbeat, pancreatitis and even death so do not underestimate vitamin D toxicity.
POINTS TO REMEMBER:
- Although vitamin D is important for bone and muscle it can boost the body's immune system but there is no evidence to support taking vitamin D supplements to prevent or treat corona virus.
- We need to consume vitamin D according to the Endocrine Society recommendation and maintain a serum vitamin D levels of between 30 to 100 nanograms per milliliter but it is safe to aim between 40 to 60 nanograms per milliliter.
- High tooth vitamin D can cause vitamin D toxicity, it can happen when a serum vitamin D level rises above 100 nanograms per milliliter its consequences can be serious. A proper treatment is required to avoid complications of hypercalcemia.
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