Vitamin D may emerge as ray of sunlight against COVID?

In the search for better weapons in the COVID19 battle researchers in Spain feel that Vitamin D may help boost our chancesA team of doctors at Reina Sofiacutea University Hospital in Coacuterdoba Spain divided 76 patients into two groups While one group of 26 got the standard treatment the second group of 50 persons got an additional drug designed to raise Vitamin D levels in the blood As per the report published in Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in the first group half went on to the intensive care unit ICU as their disease worsened and two died In the second group only one person ended up in the ICU and no one diedThe Spanish researchers proposed that the activation of the Vitamin D receptors may have beneficial effects in Acute Respiratory Disorder Syndrome by decreasing the proinflammatory response in the body during an infection The study says Recently two ecological studies have reported inverse correlations between national estimates of Vitamin D status and the incidence and mortality of COVID19 in European countries lower concentrations of circulating 25 OH D have also been reported to be associated with susceptibility to SARSCoV2 infection and the severity of the evolution of COVID19 Vitamin D deficiency is frequent in wintertime even in Southern Spain and even more so in patients requiring ICU treatmentDr Susheel BindrooDr Susheel Bindroo head of department of interventional pulmonology at Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre says as the incidences of Vitamin D deficiency rose along with an increase in diseases researchers studied correlations between the two The respiratory team focused on their diseases such as tuberculosis cystic fibrosis and even lung cancer Several researches in the area have found that those who are Vitamin D deficient have both a higher incidence of respiratory diseases and also a greater severity of the disease Dr Bindroo says that Vitamin D receptors alter the immunity of the body affecting the adaptive immunity The adaptive immune system or acquired immunity includes systemic cells and processes that fight harmful pathogens by preventing their growthIn the immune system Vitamin D receptors help convert the TH1 lineage cells to TH2 lineage cells which kill the pathogen but also save the body cells Earlier when people were diagnosed with TB they were sent to a sanatorium where they were provided isolated rest nutrition and a sun bath We didnt know then but direct sunlight by helping the body produce Vitamin D decreases the burden of disease in the body Its for this reason also perhaps that some respiratory diseases such as asthma become more severe during winter when sunlight is lessHe adds however that Vitamin D supplements should be taken only in consultation with the doctor after checking levels Also supplements are not a substitute for natural sunlight We should try to get at least 30 minutes of direct sunlight every day before 6 pm and after 8 amReverently there has been rigorous discussion around how the Coronavirus infection affects the heart And some research also found a link between heart health and Vitamin D levels However Dr Atul Limaye senior consultant interventional cardiology at Mulunds Fortis Hospital says that while there has been a correlation between lower levels of Vitamin D and poor cardiac health there is no direct association between the two There have been several studies However randomised trials found that giving Vitamin D supplements to those with poor heart health did not in any way improve their condition What the studies then indicate he says is that those with low Vitamin D levels are possibly those who are less active and dont get enough sun exposure making them predisposed to cardiac ailments In such cases just repleting Vitamin D doesnt improve cardiac healthDr Atul LimayeHe adds Numerous trials have been conducted on a variety of drugs to see what works and doesnt Remdesivir does not improve mortality but has some benefit in reducing overall hospital stayHydroxychloroquine also trials have proven doesnt help Neither does zinc All that we know works for sure is steroids and here too the timing of giving the steroids is important It cant be too early in the course of ailment it has to be given at the time of the cytokine storms between day eight and 14 of COVID19 Thats the only proven medicine in randomised trials thats been known to alter the trajectory of COVID19 not Vitamin DHe says the trouble is that too much emphasis is laid on one aspect of the treatment Whether its heart disease or COVID19 a more holistic approach of treatment is neededKeep scrolling to read more newsCatch up on all the latest Mumbai news crime news current affairs and a complete guide from food to things to do and events across Mumbai Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates MidDay is now on Telegram Click here to join our channel middayinfomedialtd and stay updated with the latest news