Vitamin D has a central and complex relationship with your body’s immune system. Vitamin D is important for everything from immune cell activation and modulation to inflammatory regulation. In addition, vitamin D has direct effect on lung cells as well as immune regulation in the lungs.
Previous research has shown a link between vitamin D levels and decreased risk of flu and other respiratory tract infections, including acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), which is one of the main reasons why people die of COVID-19.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, vitamin D deficiency itself is a major health concern that should be taken into account as it can boost immune responses and improve COVID-19 outcomes among all populations.
Data has already been published to show that having vitamin D serum levels above 30 ng/ml can help protect against severe COVID-19 outcomes.
Additional research currently being done on vitamin D and COVID-19 continues to be show similar benefits. One such study highlighted below shows how COVID-19 patients in a hospital in Singapore responded to supplementation with vitamin D, along with magnesium and vitamin B12.
Vitamins D, B12, and Magnesium
The study by Tan et al. shows data of hospitalized COVID-19 patients over the age of 50 years who were either given an oral combination of vitamin D3 (1000 IU/day), Magnesium (150 mg/day), and Vitamin B12 (500 mcg/day), or not. Out of 43 consecutive COVID-19 patients who did not require oxygen therapy upon admission, 17 received the vitamin D, magnesium, and vitamin B12 (DMB) combination, while 26 patients did not.
The study found that those receiving the DMB combination were significantly less likely to end up with oxygen therapy or intensive care support, meaning that simply taking vitamin D, magnesium and vitamin B12 helped support immune and lung function.
Only 3 out of the 17 patients (18%) in the DMB group needed oxygen therapy, two of which required the therapy within 24 hours after their first supplement dose.
For the patients who did not receive supplementation, 16 of the 26 (62%) required subsequent oxygen therapy. No side effects were observed due to DMB supplementation.
Are you getting enough magnesium?
Vitamin D, magnesium, along with zinc, omega-3s, and others, are just a few nutrients vital to maintaining a healthy body.
Be sure to test today to find out if you’re getting enough magnesium, and take steps to keep it within a target of 40-60 ng/ml or 100-150 nmol/L.
If you give your immune system the nutrients it needs to support healthy functioning, it will be able to better protect yourself from diseases.