Immunity & Covid-19 Update

Nutrients boost immunity, disease resistance

Vitamin D3 reduced chances for Covid-19

Earlier studies found vitamin D reduced chances of viral respiratory tract infections, and according to doctors, “Our statistical analysis suggests this may be true for Covid-19 infection.” In this first study to link low vitamin D with a positive Covid-19 test, doctors reviewed medical record data from 4,314 mostly non-white patients, average age 49, who were tested for Covid-19 in March and April, 2020. Based on vitamin D blood levels and on vitamin D prescriptions following these measurements, about one-quarter were likely deficient in vitamin D.

Compared to those with sufficient vitamin D levels, those who were deficient—with levels below 20 nanograms per milliliter of blood (ng/mL), or 50 nanomoles per liter (nmol/L)—were 1.77 times more likely to test positive for Covid-19. This group also tended to be younger, a race other than white, and more likely to have received vitamin D2—the synthetic form—and less likely to have received the natural form of vitamin D3.

Reference: JAMA Network Open; 2020; Vol. 3, No. 9, e2019722

Multivitamin-mineral shortened illness

More than one in three older adults in the U.S. and Canada are deficient in one or more micronutrients, particularly vitamins C and D, and zinc. To support immune system function, adults age 55 and above may prevent deficiencies by taking a multivitamin-mineral.

In this study, 42 healthy adults, aged 55 to 75, took a placebo or a daily multivitamin mineral. Vitamin D levels were at least 10 ng/mL or 25 nmol/L. After 12 weeks, while there was no change for placebo, the multivitamin-mineral group saw vitamin C levels rise 126 percent, and zinc levels increase 43 percent.

Although the doctors did not design the study to measure length of illness, those taking multivitamin-minerals reported being sick less than three days on average, compared to more than six days for placebo; the results doctors said, “were striking.”

Reference: Nutrients; Vol. 12, No. 8, 10.3390/nu12082447