scholarly journals COVID-19: the older adult and the importance of vitamin D sufficiency

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paula M. O'Shea ◽  
Tomás P. Griffin ◽  
Michelle Brennan ◽  
Eamon C. Mulkerrin
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin D ◽  
Vitamin D Deficiency ◽  
Protective Factor ◽  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Hypovitaminosis D ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Inflammatory Cytokine Response ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Viral Respiratory Infections

Abstract In December 2019, in Wuhan, China, the novel coronavirus ‘severe acute respiratory syndrome 2’ (SARS-CoV-2) was discovered as the cause of a pneumonia-like illness and subsequently named coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). COVID-19 spread and is now a global pandemic. With few exceptions, countries in the Northern hemisphere have higher mortality rates from COVID-19. This may be due to an increased prevalence of older people in Northern Europe at higher risk of having cardio-pulmonary and metabolic comorbidities as well as hypovitaminosis D. With increasing age, immunosenescence and ‘inflammaging’ lead to impaired and maladaptive immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 infections, contributing to the enhanced prevalence of severe COVID-19 in older patients. The association of ageing with increased vitamin D deficiency, which is associated with cardiovascular risk factors and disease and worse prognosis in COVID-19 infection, is discussed. Considerable experimental evidence demonstrates the immuno-modulatory properties of vitamin D, in particular, its role in regulating and suppressing the inflammatory cytokine response to viral respiratory infections links the importance of vitamin D sufficiency as a potential protective factor in COVID-19. There is an urgent need for prospective randomised studies to examine whether hypovitaminosis D correlates with severity of COVID-19 disease and the actual benefit of repletion. Moreover, given what has been described as a ‘pandemic of vitamin D deficiency’, especially in Europe, and in the context of the SARS-CoV-2 contagion, the authors support the call for public health doctors and physicians, with support from Governments, to prioritise and strengthen recommendations on vitamin D intake and supplementation.

scholarly journals Epidemic influenza and vitamin D

2006 ◽  
Vol 134 (6) ◽  
pp. 1129-1140 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. J. CANNELL ◽  
R. VIETH ◽  
J. C. UMHAU ◽  
M. F. HOLICK ◽  
W. B. GRANT ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin D ◽  
Solar Radiation ◽  
Vitamin D Deficiency ◽  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Serological Evidence ◽  
Interventional Study ◽  
Human Immunity ◽  
Viral Respiratory Infections ◽  
Live Attenuated Influenza Virus ◽  
Viral Respiratory

In 1981, R. Edgar Hope-Simpson proposed that a ‘seasonal stimulus’ intimately associated with solar radiation explained the remarkable seasonality of epidemic influenza. Solar radiation triggers robust seasonal vitamin D production in the skin; vitamin D deficiency is common in the winter, and activated vitamin D, 1,25(OH)2D, a steroid hormone, has profound effects on human immunity. 1,25(OH)2D acts as an immune system modulator, preventing excessive expression of inflammatory cytokines and increasing the ‘oxidative burst’ potential of macrophages. Perhaps most importantly, it dramatically stimulates the expression of potent anti-microbial peptides, which exist in neutrophils, monocytes, natural killer cells, and in epithelial cells lining the respiratory tract where they play a major role in protecting the lung from infection. Volunteers inoculated with live attenuated influenza virus are more likely to develop fever and serological evidence of an immune response in the winter. Vitamin D deficiency predisposes children to respiratory infections. Ultraviolet radiation (either from artificial sources or from sunlight) reduces the incidence of viral respiratory infections, as does cod liver oil (which contains vitamin D). An interventional study showed that vitamin D reduces the incidence of respiratory infections in children. We conclude that vitamin D, or lack of it, may be Hope-Simpson's ‘seasonal stimulus’.

scholarly journals Direct Measurement of Rates of Asymptomatic Infection and Clinical Care-Seeking for Seasonal Coronavirus

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey Shaman ◽  
Marta Galanti
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Clinical Care ◽  
Asymptomatic Infection ◽  
Care Seeking ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Coronavirus Infection ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Viral Respiratory Infections ◽  
Human Infections ◽  
Longitudinal Sampling

AbstractThe pandemic potential of the novel coronavirus (nCoV) that emerged in Wuhan, China, during December 2019 is strongly tied to the number and contagiousness of undocumented human infections. Here we present findings from a proactive longitudinal sampling study of acute viral respiratory infections that documents rates of asymptomatic infection and clinical care seeking for seasonal coronavirus. We find that the majority of infections are asymptomatic by most symptom definitions and that only 4% of individuals experiencing a seasonal coronavirus infection episode sought medical care for their symptoms. These numbers indicate that a very high percentage of seasonal coronavirus infections are undocumented and provide a reference for understanding the spread of the emergent nCoV.

scholarly journals Vitamin D and COVID-19: An Overview of Recent Evidence

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (19) ◽  
pp. 10559
Author(s):  
Drishti Ghelani ◽  
Simon Alesi ◽  
Aya Mousa
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin D ◽  
Effective Means ◽  
Adaptive Immune System ◽  
Vitamin D Supplementation ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Treatment And Prevention ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

The novel coronavirus severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2) has progressed rapidly from an outbreak to a global pandemic, with new variants rapidly emerging. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the disease resulting from SARS-CoV-2 infection, can lead to multiorgan damage. Due to the extremely contagious and fatal nature of the virus, it has been a priority of medical research to find effective means of treatment. Amid this search, the role of vitamin D in modulating various aspects of the innate and adaptive immune system has been discussed. This review aims to consolidate the research surrounding the role of vitamin D in the treatment and prevention of COVID-19. While there are some conflicting results reported, the consensus is that vitamin D has a host of immunomodulatory effects which may be beneficial in the context of COVID-19 and that low levels of vitamin D can result in dysfunction of crucial antimicrobial effects, potentially contributing to poor prognosis. Studies also show that the effects of low vitamin D can be mitigated via supplementation, although the benefits of vitamin D supplementation in the treatment of COVID-19 remain controversial.

Vitamin D3 and women's health

GYNECOLOGY ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-51
Author(s):  
Iuliia E Dobrokhotova ◽  
Ekaterina I Borovkova ◽  
Sofya A Zalesskaya ◽  
Victoria S Skalnaya ◽  
Ivan M Borovkov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin D ◽  
Vitamin D Deficiency ◽  
Vitamin D3 ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Perinatal Outcomes ◽  
Hypovitaminosis D ◽  
Malignant Neoplasms ◽  
Cellular Functions ◽  
Prophylactic Drug ◽  
Drug Doses

Background. Vitamin D is an essential component that regulates calcium homeostasis and many other cellular functions. Hypovitaminosis D is associated with a risk of osteopenia, obesity, type 1 and type 2 diabetes, malignant neoplasms and immune disorders. Inadequate vitamin D intake during pregnancy increases a risk of pre-eclampsia, preterm birth, low birth weight as well as it has a negative impact on both children’s and adolescents’ health. It is important for the clinician to be known administrating of vitamin D prophylactic and therapeutic regimens according to serum 25(OH)D levels. Aim. To determine causes and effects of vitamin D deficiency and to elaborate ways of their correction. Materials and methods. To write this review a search for domestic and foreign publications in Russian and international search systems (PubMed, eLibrary, etc.) for the last 2-15 years was conducted. The review includes articles from peer-reviewed literature. Results. The article shows that vitamin D has a significant impact on both the cardiovascular, endocrine, digestive, respiratory and other systems functioning and perinatal outcomes that necessitates vitamin D deficiency correction. It provides schemes for effective therapeutic and prophylactic drug doses calculating depending on vitamin D3 blood serum concentration. Conclusion. Preference should be given to cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) due to its better absorption properties and more efficient conversion to active vitamin metabolites (class IIC).

The effect of supplementation of vitamin D in neurocritical care patients: RandomizEd Clinical TrIal oF hYpovitaminosis D (RECTIFY)

2020 ◽  
Vol 133 (4) ◽  
pp. 1103-1112 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Karsy ◽  
Jian Guan ◽  
Ilyas Eli ◽  
Andrea A. Brock ◽  
Sarah T. Menacho ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Patient Outcome ◽  
Clinical Trial ◽  
Vitamin D ◽  
Vitamin D Deficiency ◽  
Vitamin D3 ◽  
Neurocritical Care ◽  
Hypovitaminosis D ◽  
Mean Difference ◽  
Saps Ii ◽  
Gcs Score

OBJECTIVEHypovitaminosis D is prevalent in neurocritical care patients, but the potential to improve patient outcome by replenishing vitamin D has not been investigated. This single-center, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, randomized (1:1) clinical trial was designed to assess the effect on patient outcome of vitamin D supplementation in neurocritical care patients with hypovitaminosis D.METHODSFrom October 2016 until April 2018, emergently admitted neurocritical care patients with vitamin D deficiency (≤ 20 ng/ml) were randomized to receive vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol, 540,000 IU) (n = 134) or placebo (n = 133). Hospital length of stay (LOS) was the primary outcome; secondary outcomes included intensive care unit (ICU) LOS, repeat vitamin D levels, patient complications, and patient disposition. Exploratory analysis evaluated specific subgroups of patients by LOS, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, and Simplified Acute Physiology Score (SAPS II).RESULTSTwo-hundred seventy-four patients were randomized (intent-to-treat) and 267 were administered treatment within 48 hours of admission (as-treated; 61.2% of planned recruitment) and monitored. The mean age of as-treated patients was 54.0 ± 17.2 years (56.9% male, 77.2% white). After interim analysis suggested a low conditional power for outcome difference (predictive power 0.12), the trial was halted. For as-treated patients, no significant difference in hospital LOS (10.4 ± 14.5 days vs 9.1 ± 7.9 days, p = 0.4; mean difference 1.3, 95% CI −1.5 to 4.1) or ICU LOS (5.8 ± 7.5 days vs 5.4 ± 6.4 days, p = 0.4; mean difference 0.4, 95% CI −1.3 to 2.1) was seen between vitamin D3 and placebo groups, respectively. Vitamin D3 supplementation significantly improved repeat serum levels compared with placebo (20.8 ± 9.3 ng/ml vs 12.8 ± 4.8 ng/ml, p < 0.001) without adverse side effects. No subgroups were identified by exclusion of LOS outliers or segregation by GCS score, SAPS II, or severe vitamin D deficiency (≤ 10 ng/ml).CONCLUSIONSDespite studies showing that vitamin D can predict prognosis, supplementation in vitamin D–deficient neurocritical care patients did not result in appreciable improvement in outcomes and likely does not play a role in acute clinical recovery.Clinical trial registration no.: NCT02881957 (clinicaltrials.gov)

Prevalence of Vitamin-D Deficiency in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome in Syria

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 3544-3548
Author(s):  
Aya Hallak ◽  
Malhis Mahmoud ◽  
Yaser Abajy Mohammad
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin D ◽  
Acute Coronary Syndrome ◽  
Vitamin D Deficiency ◽  
Hypovitaminosis D ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Coronary Syndrome ◽  
Normal Individuals ◽  
Vitamin D Levels ◽  
25 Hydroxy Vitamin D ◽  
Coronary Syndromes

The objectives of this study were to estimate the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in patients with acute coronary syndrome in comparison with normal individuals and study the correlation between these two conditions. We measured the plasma 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25-OH-D) levels in 60 patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) of both gender and in 30 age matched control individuals of both gender without any known cardiovascular or systemic diseases. The levels of 25-OH-D were measured by ELISA method and the results were statically analyzed to find out any possible correlation. We classified the cases according to their plasma 25(OH)D levels. 25(OH)D levels of ≥ 30 ng/ml were considered normal, levels < 30 and > 20 ng/ml were classified as insufficient, while levels of ≤ 20 ng/ml were classified as deficient. In the current study the prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in the patients group was much higher than it was in the control group. Vitamin D deficiency was observed in 80% and insufficiency in 13% of total patients of ACS, there by bringing the total count to 93%. Whereas only 7% of the patients had adequate vitamin D levels. Thus, these results indicate the existence of a significant correlation between the vitamin D deficiency and ACS in comparison to healthy controls

Synthetic and semi-synthetic drugs as promising therapeutic option for the treatment of COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ekta Shirbhate ◽  
Preeti Patel ◽  
Vijay K Patel ◽  
Ravichandran Veerasamy ◽  
Prabodh C Sharma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Therapeutic Option ◽  
Antiviral Treatment ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Clinical Experiences ◽  
Synthetic Compounds ◽  
Synthetic Drugs ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
The World ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

: The novel coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19), a global pandemic that emerged from Wuhan, China has today travelled all around the world, so far 216 countries or territories with 21,732,472 people infected and 770,866 deaths globally (as per WHO COVID-19 update dated August 18, 2020). Continuous efforts are being made to repurpose the existing drugs and develop vaccines for combating this infection. Despite, to date, no certified antiviral treatment or vaccine prevails. Although, few candidates have displayed their efficacy in in vitro studies and are being repurposed for COVID-19 treatment. This article summarizes synthetic and semi-synthetic compounds displaying potent activity in their clinical experiences or studies against COVID-19 and also focuses on mode of action of drugs being repositioned against COVID-19.

scholarly journals Vitamin D Deficiency in Testicular Cancer Survivors: A Systematic Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (10) ◽  
pp. 5145
Author(s):  
Giuseppe Schepisi ◽  
Caterina Gianni ◽  
Sara Bleve ◽  
Silvia De Padova ◽  
Cecilia Menna ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin D ◽  
Testicular Cancer ◽  
Vitamin D Deficiency ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Hypovitaminosis D ◽  
Young Males ◽  
Report Data ◽  
Testicular Cancer Survivors ◽  
Patients Experience

Testicular cancer (TC) is the most frequent tumor in young males. In the vast majority of cases, it is a curable disease; therefore, very often patients experience a long survival, also due to their young age at diagnosis. In the last decades, the role of the vitamin D deficiency related to orchiectomy has become an increasingly debated topic. Indeed, vitamin D is essential in bone metabolism and many other metabolic pathways, so its deficiency could lead to various metabolic disorders especially in long-term TC survivors. In our article, we report data from studies that evaluated the incidence of hypovitaminosis D in TC survivors compared with cohorts of healthy peers and we discuss molecular mechanisms and clinical implications.

The roles of vitamin D in increasing the body's immunity and reducing injuries due to viral infections: With an emphasis on its possible role in SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)

2021 ◽  
Vol 27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elahe Aleebrahim-Dehkordi ◽  
Niloofar Deravi ◽  
Shirin Yaghoobpoor ◽  
Dariush Hooshyar ◽  
Mahmoud Rafieian-Kopaei
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin D ◽  
Immune System ◽  
Vitamin D Deficiency ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Vitamin D Supplementation ◽  
Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 ◽  
Treatment And Prevention ◽  
Lung Injuries ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Cytochrome P450 Family

Background: It is known that Vitamin D can increase the body’s immunity against some viral infections. Many people around the world have vitamin D deficiency and, therefore, this has become a public concern whether vitamin D is an important factor protecting against COVID-19 infection. In this paper, the data about the roles of vitamin D on immunity and recovery from viral infections, especially novel Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is reviewed. Methods: The electronic databases of Pubmed, Google Scholar, Research Gate, Excerpta Media Database (EMBASE) and Medical and Health Education (Medrix) were searched. Results: Vitamin D is considered an important factor in immune homeostasis. Various effects have been considered for this nutrient on the immune system, particularly because of vitamin D receptor (VDR) and Cytochrome P450 Family 27 Subfamily B Member 1 (CYP27B1) expression in most of the immune cells. Vitamin D can raise cellular immunity, reduce cytokine storm and enhance antioxidants production. It also has modulatory effects on Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors and might have protective functions against acute lung injuries, including COVID-19 infection. However, there are some articles against this positive effect. Conclusion: Vitamin D supplementation is reported to be effective in the enhancement of the immune system and might be effective in the treatment and prevention of COVID-19 infection, especially in those with its deficiency. However, it should be considered that vitamin D deficiency shows the overall health status of the patients and cannot be considered specific for COVID-19 infection.

Association of Vitamin D Deficiency in Newly Diagnosed Pulmonary Tuberculosis

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (10) ◽  
pp. 2572-2573
Author(s):  
Khalil Ullah ◽  
Sajid Ur Rehman ◽  
Ramsha Nadeem ◽  
Muhammad Abubakar ◽  
Qasim Raza
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin D ◽  
Pulmonary Tuberculosis ◽  
Vitamin D Deficiency ◽  
Serum Vitamin ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Hypovitaminosis D ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Sputum Smear ◽  
Study Group ◽  
Serum Vitamin D

Aim: Relationship between Vitamin D deficiency and pulmonary tuberculosis. Methodology: Study duration: November 2020 to April 2021 Sampling technique: A case-control study Setting: Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar It included 30 adult newly identified sputum-quality pulmonary tuberculosis patients and 30 age and sex matched healthy cases as controls. All cases had undergone a thorough medical examination and repeated laboratory tests, including vitamin D, calcium, and sputum for AFB and X-ray chest. Results: Majority were males (88%). In the Study group, BMI decreased significantly i.e. 19.0 vs 23.5. Serum vitamin D concentrations were significantly lower in the tuberculosis group i.e. 17.9ng/dl than in the control group 24.8ng/dl. Mean of serum albumin in the control group was 3.9 ng/dl whereas 2.9 ng/dl in the study group. Conclusion: Hypovitaminosis D was associated with more severe medical symptoms, increased sputum smear positivity and large lesions on chest radiographs in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. Keywords: Vitamin D, Pulmonary Tuberculosis, Sputum

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