Vitamin D levels may impact COVID-19 mortality rates, study claims

Fox News ^ | May 09 2020 | Christopher Carbone

[knighthawk]

Researchers have discovered a strong correlation between vitamin D deficiency and mortality rates from the novel coronavirus, a new study reveals.

A research team led by Northwestern University analyzed data from hospitals and clinics across China, France, Germany, Italy, Iran, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Patients from countries with high COVID-19 mortality rates, such as Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom, had lower levels of vitamin D compared to patients in countries that were not as severely affected, according to the study.

[43north]

“So I use a sunscreen but very low range to filter the rays to an acceptable level.”

It is very dusty where I live. When I am outside working in sunny weather dirt sticks to any exposed areas that have sunscreen on. I have invested in several long-sleeve lightweight cotton work shirts, lightweight cotton work pants, and a military boonie hat so I don’t need sunscreen. I figured this out years ago when I was in Arizona. It was sunny and 106* and I encountered a cowboy outside of Phoenix who was dressed from head to toe. I asked why. “So I don’t get sunburned.” Duh!

[Bob434]

[[Makes me wonder what parts of Spain and Italy the lack of Vitamin D are...]]

The prison cells apparently

[NautiNurse]

Sunshine and milk fortified with vitamins A&D. As mentioned earlier, skin cancer protection (spf, hats, long sleeves, long pants) limits vitamin D absorption. Pick your poison. Vitamin D supplements are inexpensive, readily available. Don't take mega doses of vitamin D--no matter what you read on the internet--without discussing with your physician. There is a lab test to measure your vitamin D level.

Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin, stored in the liver. If you have liver problems or take other meds, definitely discuss with your physician before taking any supplements.

[Cicero]

It’s hard to get enough sunshine all the time. Even in summer you can get weeks of cloudy whether.

I live in Vermont, where it’s hard to get enough sun. I take a daily 5iu capsule of Vitamin D-3, and a Vitamin C tablet, and that does the trick.

[CaptainK]

I take 3,000IU while my hubby does 5,000IU daily.

[Cicero]

Weather.

[MrChips]

Well, yes, and as a precaution, I take extra Vitamin D every day (and Zinc). But, I lost a friend to the FCCV (Fu4k#ng Communist Chinese Virus) and he was a sun-worshipper, spent a couple of hours on the beach every sunny day of his life in Florida. You would think he had Vitamin D in huge quantities.

[Magic Fingers]

“The VA proscribed “D” for me years ago. Too old for sunshine.”

Yep, it appears that conversion efficiency declines with age.

[an amused spectator]

People think that they are consuming more vitamin D than they actually are.

I was doing some research in late January about how much vitamin C to take daily [through food and supplements], and stumbled across vitamin D as something that impacts upper respiratory tract infections.

Followed that up, and realized that most people think that they are getting more D than they actually get.

I thought that the cheese I eat a lot of had plenty of vitamin D - but there's only a minimal amount in cheese.

You'd have to drink most of a half gallon of whole milk [48 ounces] every day to get even 600 IU (RDA is around 700-800 IU).

Another issue is that many people are on a low fat diet [why I pinged BobL], and vitamin D absorption increases with fat in your meal.

About the only concentrated source of vitamin D in foods is canned tuna fish, canned sardines, fresh salmon [not ALL fish are good for this - just fatty fish], egg yolks, and D-fortified foods like cereal and some orange juices.

[kelly4c]

Bkmk

[an amused spectator]

and he was a sun-worshipper, spent a couple of hours on the beach every sunny day of his life in Florida. You would think he had Vitamin D in huge quantities.

Apparently, the angle of the sun has a lot to do with vitamin D absorption by your skin.

Did he have any co-morbidities?

https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/time-for-more-vitamin-d

Except during the summer months, the skin makes little if any vitamin D from the sun at latitudes above 37 degrees north (in the United States, the shaded region in the map) or below 37 degrees south of the equator. People who live in these areas are at relatively greater risk for vitamin D deficiency.

For this to happen, the sun has to be high enough in the sky for the ultraviolet B radiation (UVB) rays that we use to make vitamin D to get through the atmosphere to us. The sun is only at the right angle (higher than 50 degrees) above the horizon between May and September from 10am to 3pm.

[rfp1234]

Ecuador is still a puzzle.

[SamAdams76]

This isolated masked germ free lifestyle is deadly. It prevents our immune systems from building and strengthening by exposure to microbes, bacterias and bugs. Our weakened defenses will be challenged by deadlier diseases and lose.

I've long advocated this position. Our immune system is like an army. Without constant drill and occasional battles, it quickly loses its edge.

[SamAdams76]

Don't take mega doses of vitamin D--no matter what you read on the internet--without discussing with your physician.

Good advice. My doctor yelled at me once for upping my recommended dose from 2000 IU to 5000 IU daily. Said it was way too much. Been taking 2000 IU for many years now and always had good bloodwork.

I do get a lot of sunshine when I can and rarely use sunscreen (pick your poison!). There are also a few foods that supply good amounts of Vitamin D that I eat in abundance. Not because they have Vitamin D but because they taste so good! Those foods are salmon, sardines, mushrooms and eggs.

[Sacajaweau]

I eat Salmon and tuna....4 meals a week....two eggs every other day. Milk oatmeal. My BP is 65/115. I'm 76. 5'3" 115 lbs.

No soda No chips No processed food.

And I'm out and about. Have some good genes.

[goodnesswins]

SOME people need a lot of Vitamin D3 supplementation... (me)...but ALL people need to be tested....Medicare/Govt would probably save a lot of $$ if they paid for testing...imho

[Wonder Warthog]

"Spain’s southernmost latitude is level with our Mid Atlantic states."

I wasn't comparing it to the "Mid-Atlantic states".

[MrChips]

No co-morbidities. Thanks for the map. He lived way below the line. I think he just waited too long to go to a hospital.

[an amused spectator]

I think he just waited too long to go to a hospital.

I've heard it said that you sometimes can't tell you're suffocating with the Covid.

The problem seems to be that your other organs end up getting oxygen-starved, too - not just your lungs.

[HamiltonJay]

This is interesting. During thr Spanish flu doctors discovered patients did better when treated outside rather than inside. The assumption was the fresh air helped. Perhaps it was sunshine and vitamin D