A recent study found that 82% of patients with the emerging corona virus (Covid-19) who are hospitalized suffer from a deficiency of a certain vitamin, so what is it?

What are its normal levels?

Do you suffer from a deficiency in it?

The study was conducted by researchers from Spain, including Jose El Hernandez from the Marques de Valdesia Hospital in Spain, and published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, and the study included 216 patients who were hospitalized for treatment of Covid-19 in March / Last March.

The researchers found that 82% of hospitalized patients with Covid-19 were suffering from a deficiency of "vitamin D" (Vitamin D).

The researchers said in the study that the role of vitamin "D" in Covid-19 patients is a subject of discussion, and that they aimed to evaluate vitamin "D" in patients by examining the levels of serum "25-hydroxyvitamin D" (25-hydroxyvitamin D) in patients in hospital. People with Covid-19, and to analyze the possible effect of vitamin D status on disease severity.

The researchers adopted the definition of vitamin D deficiency as when levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D are less than 20 nanograms / milliliter.

Vitamin D deficiency was found in 82.2% of Covid-19 cases, compared to 47.2% of the comparison group for people without the disease, and it was noted that this deficiency is more prevalent in men than in women.

This means that people who suffer more from Covid-19 and are hospitalized are twice as likely to have a vitamin D deficiency compared to people without infection.

However, the researchers did not find a link between disease severity and vitamin D levels.

The graphic below shows 9 of the most prominent symptoms of the Corona virus, and to find out a detailed list of symptoms of Corona infection, click on this link.

What is the relationship?

However, it is important to note that the conclusions of this study are not causal, which means that it cannot be concluded that vitamin D deficiency was directly responsible for the greater likelihood of hospitalization with Covid-19 disease, but certainly the study joins data that indicate To the existence of a relationship between vitamin D deficiency and the risk of corona infection.

Vitamin D is important in the absorption of calcium and phosphate, and it is important for bone and muscle health. Maintaining healthy levels of vitamin D contributes to helping the absorption of calcium from food, and reducing the incidence of bone fractures and fragility in adults in the event of a daily dose of it.

And for children;

It helps build strong bones, and prevents rickets that cause arched legs, knees and weak legs.

It is also believed that vitamin D has beneficial effects on the immune system, and that an adequate intake of vitamin D may provide some protection against respiratory infections.

Vitamin D is produced in the body as a result of exposure to ultraviolet B rays from the sun. It can also be obtained from fatty fish such as salmon, swordfish and mackerel, in addition to tuna and sardines that contain vitamin D at lower rates.

You can also get the vitamin from egg yolks, beef liver, and fortified foods like grains and milk.

Do you have a deficiency in vitamin D?

Often there are no noticeable symptoms of mild vitamin D deficiency, but a person may feel symptoms such as difficulty thinking clearly, bone pain, multiple fractures, muscle weakness and constant fatigue.

If you suspect that you suffer from vitamin D deficiency, see your doctor, who will evaluate your condition and conduct the necessary tests for you. If you have a deficiency, he may give you nutritional supplements in specific doses, according to the level of deficiency that you have.

The ratio of 30 to 50 nanograms / milliliter of 25-hydroxyvitamin D is sufficient for healthy people. As for the previous study, it was considered that those with a ratio of less than 20 nanograms / milliliter suffer from vitamin D deficiency.

The best way to get vitamin D is to eat foods rich in vitamin D, in addition to nutritional supplements.

Vitamin D supplements are taken only after consulting a doctor, when a person has a deficiency in vitamin D, and he is not able to obtain vitamin D in an adequate amount from other sources such as sunlight and food.