In recent months, there has been a lot of news about the relationship between the coronavirus and a very important nutrient: vitamin D. But is it true that, if you have a deficiency of this vitamin, you risk more of getting sick with Covid-19? A recent study gives new answers.
Watch out for buffaloes
Before talking about vitamin D and coronavirus, a premise is necessary: there is no miracle cure to avoid getting sick with Covid-19. The best way to prevent transmission of the virus remains to follow the recommendations. Sanitize your hands, keep a safe distance, wear a mask, stay at home if you have the symptoms of Covid-19.
Regarding vitamin D, articles have circulated in recent months proposing it as a panacea against the virus. The Ministry of Health has expressed itself on this in its Web page dedicated to buffaloes, which we recommend to always keep an eye on. Notably, the ministry said there is no scientific evidence that vitamin D plays a role in protecting against novel coronavirus infection.
What the new study from the University of Chicago says
However, there are several ongoing studies on the role of vitamin D in preventing the virus. Among the most recent, there is the one published on September 3 by a team of researchers from the University of Chicago. Researchers have brought us closer to an answer to this controversial question: is it true that if you have a deficiency of this vitamin, you risk more getting sick with Covid-19?
The study found an association between vitamin D deficiency and the likelihood of contracting coronavirus infection. Specifically, the scientists observed 489 patients whose vitamin D levels had been measured up to one year before the test for Covid-19. Patients with vitamin D deficiency were nearly twice as likely to test positive for the virus.
As the authors themselves state, however, the results of the study are limited and new experiments are needed to determine whether taking vitamin D can help protect against infection.
In any case, one of the researchers pointed out that vitamin D is important for the functioning of the immune system. Other studies have previously shown the effectiveness of vitamin D in reducing the risk of respiratory tract infections.
So even if vitamin D isn’t a miracle cure for coronavirus, taking it is important for health. Click here to find out how to avoid a deficiency of this precious vitamin.