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Vitamin D & Covid - update on mortality study

Are pre-existing Vitamin D deficiencies linked to COVID-19 severity and mortality?

"Interestingly, of the over 250 individuals in the study, with a mean age of 63 years, just over half had <vitamin D deficiency> (VDD). Mortality was 13 times higher in this group, occurring in 26% of patients vs. 2% in the vitamin D-sufficient group.

Of those with VDD, almost half developed severe illness, compared to less than a tenth in those with vitamin D levels above 20 ng/mL. The lower the vitamin D levels, the greater the risk of severe COVID-19, observed in 87% of people with VDD compared to 34% of the rest of the group.

In fact, VDD was found in 9% of mild COVID-19 patients, vs. 58% in those with moderate illness, but 87% of severely or critically ill patients. The odds that a patient with severe or critical disease would have VDD were 14 times higher compared to those with mild or moderate disease, even after adjusting for age, male sex, and the presence of other illnesses."

What I find interesting is that people with so-called "normal" vitamin D levels (~30-40 ng/ml) do have significant protection from Covid according to this report. No study has been done with people who have super-normal levels (> 50 ng/ml) of vitamin D and Covid susceptibility. My hypothesis is that people who maintain high normal Vitamin D levels  (sweet spot = 70 ng/ml) probably have a very strong resistance to Covid. In fact, these people likely have very strong resistance to respiratory virus' (i.e. colds and flu) in general. I know I do. Once I elevated my vitamin D level to above 50 ng/ml, over 15 years ago, I have not had a flu, cold, cough, sneeze or anything respiratory in that time. Prior to this, I would 'catch' a cold once or twice a year and catch the flu every other year or so. And back then, my vitamin D level tested at 17 ng/ml. I strongly believe vitamin D is vital to immune health against a variety of diseases (CML included) but especially respiratory virus' based on personal experience. It will be interesting to learn if others who maintain high normal vitamin D levels also experience lack of colds or flu.

 

IIRC, my Vit D level was 23 ng/ml when tested a few years ago. Since then I've been supplementing and try to get more sun exposure when it's available in the frequently cloudy Pacific Northwest.  I too have experienced fewer colds since increasing my Vit D level.  I did have a moderate cold a couple of months ago, but that's the only one I can recall since starting supplements.  Anecdotally, our 22 year old son who lives with us had a mild case of Covid back in December and I didn't contract it from him.  We didn't isolate from him in our household when he had it. Previously I had added zinc and quercetin to my supplements as additional protection from Covid.

What is your most recent vitamin D level?

The last time it was tested was in 2017 when it was 69.3 ng/ml.  I've been averaging 7,500 IU per day.  Back then it may have been 10,000 per day.

2017 is a long time ago. You need to be tested again to know if you are over-dosing. If you take vitamin K2 along with D3, overdose is less likely.

As long as you stay under 10,000 IU's per day, overdose is difficult. But better to know so you can keep your D level in the sweet spot for immune response.

Yes, I've been taking 90 mcg/day K2 (MK-7) along with the D3.  Hopefully all the supplements I take are doing their job! yes

I take 180 mcg K2 per day supplement 'and' I eat Natto (over 400 mcg per serving). The more K2, the better (dose dependent) up to about 800 mcg after which no additional benefit is observed.

Scuba,

Since I started supplementing with high dose D3 (with K2 included) to try and stop the chest infections I had suffered at least once a year (4 days in bed, coughing, coughing, coughing) I have not had one infection, cold or flu. It has been well over 3 years now and I feel confident that the difference is because of my higher D3 level. I still include high dose Ascorbate - Vit C- (10,000 to 20,000, divided doses throughout the day, in water).

My last D3 test was somewhere around 150 ng/ml. I reduce the daily dose if I spend time in full sun, but generally make sure I take at least 10,000 units per day, particularly in winter months because I feel instinctively that this is the right workable level for me. I also include zinc, magnesium and selenium plus niacinamide, B12 and a 50mg B complex.

Sandy

 

Sandy,

The 'DINOMIT' model of cancer development discusses vitamin D role and importance in lessening cancer risk (all mortality cancer):

The video is very informative.

One of the results of this pioneering work is the ideal blood levels of vitamin D necessary to maximize benefit without causing excess calcium buildup.

Your blood level of 150 ng/ml is too high. The ideal blood level for maximum benefit is ~70 ng/ml (50-100 ng/ml). Values above 100-125 ng/ml show decreased benefit and increased hypercalcemia risk. Keep in mind, blood calcium level alone does not mean you are not 'hypercalcemic' although people who have too much vitamin D typically show high normal blood calcium. The body has to keep calcium in a normal range or blood pH becomes a problem. Excess calcium will be deposited in kidneys and other soft tissues - although research does show that high K2 levels mostly prevents this even with excess calcium absorption due to high vitamin D. Consider letting your blood D levels fall back somewhat. You are still very well protected.

It takes 6-8 weeks for vitamin D to reduce by half assuming no intake or sun exposure. You could easily stop taking D or greatly reduce your dose to allow your body to adjust down below 100 ng/ml.

Something to think about.

(by the way - in winter, it is amazing how quickly vitamin D is used up. I supplement around 7500-10,000 per day beginning in September and still my D will fall to about 50 ng/ml. In summer, when I am out in the sun, I don't take any D3 (on those days only) and my D rises close to 90). The sun is the best way to get D if you can be out in the sun.)

Hi Scuba,

Thanks for the links. I am aware that I am keeping my level in the higher ranges - according to the current consensus on what is the 'optimal' level - and I am also aware that some previous research has indicated that higher levels 'may' present an increased risk of hypercalcaemia in some people, but that this is rare....

Personally I feel better at this higher range (I have experimented) but this is a personal preference and I am not advocating that everyone needs to follow my example. 

Hopefully, the evidence for higher levels of D3 (in the whole population) will get through somehow and encourage people to try to at least increase their daily sun exposure and supplement in the darker months of Autumn and Winter. My only advice is to 'listen' to your body and not only to whatever the current medical consensus happens to be. If I had gone against my own instincts and dropped all supplementation when I had my SCT (2003) I think it would have been much harder for me to survive the onslaught of chemicals delivered during my transplant. 

Good luck for your ongoing TFR journey,

Sandy