Without a coronavirus vaccine approved for mass use, many people are turning to vitamins to strengthen their immune system in the fight against Covid-19.
While many posts on social networks consider vitamins as a shield against coronavirus, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the American National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has said that most "so-called immune-boosting supplements" do "nothing."
However, there is one vitamin that can be extremely important in the fight against coronavirus - Vitamin D.
"If you have a vitamin D deficiency, it has an impact on susceptibility to infection," Fauci said in an Instagram Live interview with actress Jennifer Garner. Fauci did not mention Covid-19 specifically, but spoke about the overall role of vitamin D in boosting the immune system - in particular, the benefits of this nutrient for people who are deficient.
Meanwhile there is plenty of evidence that scientists are studying about the benefits of this vitamin against Covid-19.
Recent research suggests that vitamin D deficiency may increase the risk of coronavirus infection and the severity of the disease. For example, some studies have found that deaths from Covid-19 tend to be higher in places farther from the equator, where many people are deficient in vitamin D due to the small amount of sunlight, especially during the winter. Another study published in the JAMA Network Open strengthens the importance of vitamin D for a healthy immune system.
Other research shows that patients with lower vitamin D levels who are diagnosed with Covid-19 tend to have worse symptoms. However, not all studies link this vitamin to protection against the virus. Many scientists are observing the importance of vitamin C and zinc. In one study, experts in Spain reported that patients with low blood zinc levels were more likely to die from Covid-19.
It is currently impossible to show a 100% cause-and-effect relationship between vitamin and Covid-19. More evidence is needed at the moment, but researchers seem to be enthusiastic about the benefits of vitamin D to prevent Covid-19 or to fight the disease faster.
Sources: Healthline, Mayo Clinic, BBC
