Hormone D, a key ally against infectious diseases

In recent months, since the beginning of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, there have been numerous studies published around the world on the relationship of deficient levels of vitamin D, or better called hormone D, with a worse progression of the illness.

Specialists find this explanation in the extraosseous actions of hormone D, which is capable of acting in a multitude of tissues and cells in our body. “The barrier function mechanism would already be sufficient to take into account the anti-infective effect of hormone D. But, in addition, we know that the cells of our body also have vitamin D receptors that stimulate innate cellular immunity, by inducing a kind of ‘endogenous antibiotics‘which favor these anti-infective actions, as part of those other mechanisms, “says Dr. José Luis Neyro, who is a specialist in Gynecology and Obstetrics at the Biscayan Hospital Universitario Cruces de Bilbao.

There are some epidemiological facts that indicate that viral diseases and respiratory infections in general are much more prevalent in winter, which is when the sun is less, and when the levels of 25 (OH) vitamin D are lowest in the population.

Hours of sunshine per year

Despite the fact that Spain is one of the European countries that receives more hours of sunshine per year, the vitamin D deficit is very present among the population. In this sense, vitamin D deficiency among the Spanish population is a reality that affects approximately 80 percent of individuals over 65 years of age.

“It has been described that levels of 30 ng / ml of 25 (OH) vitamin D are necessary for optimal induction of endogenous natural antibiotics. If we already look at other higher levels, such as at least 60 ng / ml, a 43 percent lower risk of illnesses such as the flu has been described than in those people who were deficient because they had less than 20 ng / ml. And it is that different levels of 25 (OH) vitamin D produce different actions and these achieve multiple benefits for health: from the preservation of bone health to a great help for defense against pathogens, such as the SARS-CoV-2 virus, or for the treatment of cancer ”, explains José Luis Neyro.

“The endocrine system of vitamin D at adequate levels has shown that it is accompanied by fewer complications and less mortality among Covid-19 patients than when they have deficient or insufficient levels and contract the disease. What we know about the relationship established by the viruses of the coronavirus family (SARS, MERS and the new SARS-CoV2) would be related to the influence of hormone D on the innate system. The famous cytokine storm is the cause of the complications in the evolution of this Covid-19 disease, through the type alterations of subsequent generalized micro-thromboses. All this seems that it could be modulated with good levels of 25 (OH) vitamin D ”, assures this specialist.

With regard to research on SARS-CoV-2, a recent randomized clinical trial (RCT) designed and developed in Córdoba shows that the addition of calcifediol to the treatment of choice for Covid-19 in patients admitted to hospital significantly reduced the complications of the disease. It also managed to significantly reduce admissions to Intensive Care Units (ICU) and it was even observed that adjuvant treatment with calcifediol reduced mortality in the treated group when it was compared (double-blind) against a group that received placebo.

Covid-19 pneumonia patients

“The importance of this study is such that its impact has already spread throughout the world and has made vitamin D treatment one of the supports for patients with Covid-19 pneumonia upon admission to hospital. Even in the British Parliament, the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, has been questioned about this treatment as’safe, cheap and effective‘and he himself has praised the treatment with calcifediol, as he pointed out in a public appearance referring to the interpellation received in parliament, ”explains Neyro.

Hydroferol (Calcifediol, 25-hydroxycholecalciferol, 25 (OH) D), Farma FieldIn its recent and convenient presentation in soft capsules, it is an effective prescription treatment that corrects vitamin D deficiency. Each Hydroferol capsule contains 0.266 mg of calcifediol. This presentation allows the specialist to precisely adjust the dosage (depending on the level of deficiency of the patient, his physical characteristics, the presence of other comorbidities, his age and his general state of health).

In various clinical studies evaluating its efficacy in normalizing plasma levels of 25 (OH) vitamin D in patients with vitamin D deficiency, calcifediol has been shown to be three to six times more potent than other drugs containing cholecalciferol.

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