Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that you can get from several types of food or supplements. In contrast to other kinds of vitamins, the body can also produce vitamin D when the skin is exposed to direct sunlight. Therefore, vitamin D is often referred to as the sunshine vitamin.

Plays a role in increasing the absorption of calcium and phosphate, vitamin D functions in maintaining healthy bones and teeth. This vitamin also plays a role in maintaining a healthy immune system, brain, and nervous system. Given its essential role in the body, vitamin D deficiency can be harmful to overall health. In addition, vitamin D deficiency can make the body more susceptible to disease. But vitamin D deficiency is also known to be associated with death rates from COVID-19 cases. According to a study conducted by Anglia Ruskin University, vitamin D deficiency can increase the risk of death in COVID-19 patients.

Along with the increasing number of deaths from COVID-19, researchers continue to conduct research to find out what factors can increase the risk. The European continent, especially Italy and Spain, has a high mortality rate than other affected countries. In addition, residents of these countries are known to have low levels of vitamin D, especially elderlies, dislike basking in direct sunlight and even avoid it.

Then, how is the relationship between the two? Low levels of vitamin D are known to make the body susceptible to infection. Vitamins have an essential role in the body's immune system, especially preventing white blood cells from releasing excessive inflammatory cytokines. Adequate vitamin D levels can suppress pro-inflammatory cytokines due to an overactive immune system when fighting infection. This, of course, can help reduce the risk of illness and death in COVID-19 sufferers.

Text by Anggie Triana
Stock photos from: Google Search Images

Source(s):

• Ilie, P.C., Stefanescu, S., and Smith, L. (2020). The role of vitamin D in the prevention of coronavirus disease 2019 infection and mortality. Aging Clinical and Experimental Research, DOI: 10.1007/s40520-020-01570-8.
• Science Daily - Vitamin D linked to low virus death rate, study finds: New COVID-19 research finds relationship in data from 20 European countries (2020). https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/05/200507131012.htm, May 11, 2020.