Preventive and Therapeutic Role Played by Vitamin D in Individuals with Covid-19
Author(s): K Prasanna Venkatesh*
Abstract
The coronavirus pandemic has created public health crises around the globe and the research for possible preventive and protective factors is still underway in many countries. Elderly patients, and those patients with comorbidities like hypertension and diabetes mellitus, are at higher risk of developing pneumonia which can further lead to complications like pulmonary fibrosis and ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome). At times, even children are not spared by Covid 19 and they acquire a less extreme manifestation of the disease. This review article talks about the preventive role of Vitamin D in individuals that are prone to develop Corona Viral Disease. Vitamin D is an essential micronutrient, which is provided by sources such as sunlight and other sources such as cod liver oil, yolk from cooked eggs and liver of beef. Hypovitaminosis D has been shown to be a causative factor of Corona viral disease, thus implicating Vitamin D as a promising medium for fighting the Corona Virus. Vitamin D supplementation for risk groups (those with hypovitaminosis D), is recommended to maintain an optimal level of serum vitamin D for Corona viral disease prevention and treatment. This vitamin also has a direct antiviral effect on viruses with envelopes, and the novel corona virus is an enveloped virus. Vitamin D is a vitamin which also has a role in modulating the immune responses and signaling pathways that has a role in the pathogenesis of Corona viral disease. Thus, in this article, we review the preventive and therapeutic part played by Vitamin D in the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.