The Truth about Vitamin D and COVID-19

[SidDithers]

https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/covid-19-health/truth-about-vitamin-d-and-covid-19

The most important fact that is often overlooked is that these supplements have been studied and do not work.

I am often asked if there is a simple way to prevent or cure COVID-19. I can assure you there is not. If there were, I would not have sat casually by as millions of people around the world got sick and died. Not being a Bond villain, I derive no pleasure from wide-scale human suffering, nor do I enjoy not being able to see my friends. I don’t endorse any vitamin or mineral as a COVID cure because they simply do not work.

You will, if you wade through the morass of misinformation on the internet, find many posts and videos advocating for zinc, Vitamin C or Vitamin D as COVID cures. They promise to simultaneously prevent infections, cure the disease, save lives and thereby make lockdowns and vaccines unnecessary.

snip

But the most important fact that is often overlooked is that these supplements have been studied and do not work. The COVID A to Z Randomized Trial tested ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), zinc and a combination of the two as a treatment for COVID-19. Between April and October 2020, researchers recruited patients diagnosed with COVID-19 and randomly assigned them to receive nothing, zinc, Vitamin C or both. Neither zinc, nor Vitamin C, nor the combination, improved symptoms, the risk of hospitalization or the risk of death. As the accompanying editorial pointed out, these two supplements failed to live up to their hype.

Vitamin D is another popular supposed COVID cure, though many of its claims to reduce heart disease or cancer have not panned out. I was willing to entertain the possibility that it might work for COVID-19. But the only published trial about Vitamin D and COVID-19 shows that it does not. Researchers in Brazil randomized hospitalized COVID patients to get either a placebo or 200,000 units of Vitamin D. This is a massive dose and 20 times higher than what most people take per week. For those patients, their blood levels of Vitamin D went up. They just didn’t get better any faster. Admission to the ICU, being put on a ventilator and mortality were the same in both groups.

From the excellent McGill University Office of Science and Society.

Sid

[MineralMan]

1. I disregard all of that sort of folksy information about health.

My primary care physician says, "At your age, it's not a bad idea to take a multivitamin," so I do that. He prescribes other medications for specific health conditions. I take those as directed.

My protection against COVID-19 for a year has been to wear a mask, wash my hands, use hand sanitizer when I cannot wash, and keep my distance from other people. That has been completely successful. I get my second Moderna vaccination next Friday. However, I will continue to do the masking and social distancing until recognized health officials say it is no longer necessary.

I note that the mask and hand cleansing advice has also practically eliminated the flu this season. I find that very interesting. I get my flu shot every year, but I'm thinking maybe adding the masking precautions might be worth doing during that season, as well.

When it comes to health care advice, I listen to consensus advice from health care professionals and keep an eye on professional health information online. I don't listen to anybody else.

[Patterson]

3. I totally agree with this.

[womanofthehills]

28. I totally disagree -

A vitamin that is known to help the immune system sounds good to me. I don't need to take extra vitamin D because I live in NM where the sun shines all the time and I am outdoors half the time. My vit D levels always test high. Also, free range chickens allowed to run outdoors will have high levels of vit D in their yokes. A good way to get extra vit D.

Key recommendations:

— There seems nothing to lose and potentially much to gain by recommending vitamin D supplementation for all, e.g. at 800–1000 IU/day, making it clear that this is to help ensure immune health and not solely for bone and muscle health.
— This should be mandated for prescription in care homes, prisons and other institutions where people are likely to have been indoors for much of the time during the summer.
— People likely to be currently deficient should consider taking a higher dose, e.g. 4000 IU/day for the first four weeks before reducing to 800 IU–1000 IU/day
— People admitted to hospital with COVID-19 should have their vitamin D status checked and/or supplemented and consideration should be given to testing high-dose calcifediol in the RECOVERY trial.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7813231/

[hlthe2b]

2. That they are exclaiming against these supplements as cures is fine. They are not.

That they are arguably helpful in ensuring a healthy, if not directed, immune response, even Fauci believes so and has stated he takes them as well (Vitamin D and Zinc).

[hamsterjill]

4. I've never considered Vitamin D a cure.

But I do believe it is a component in supporting a healthy immune system so I take it on the advice of my physician.

I’m old school and still believe that anything that sounds too good to be true, probably is so I always take these “cures” with a grain of salt.

Mask. Wash. Distance.

[womanofthehills]

30. Physicians must think Vit D is important or they would not constantly be testing our Vit D levels

whenever we get blood work done. It's so easy to get Vit D, just sit outside in the sun for 15 min a day exposing as much skin as you can.

[Phoenix61]

5. Seems that might not be the case

“Among Black people with vitamin D levels below 40 ng/mL, risk of testing positive for COVID-19 was more than twice that of those with levels of 40 ng/mL or greater, according to a single-center retrospective cohort study.

Compared to levels of 40 ng/mL or greater, a positive test result for COVID-19 was associated with vitamin D levels below 20 ng/mL (incidence rate ratio 2.55, 95% CI 1.26-5.15, P=0.009), as well as levels from 30 ng/mL to 40 ng/mL (IRR 2.64, 95% CI 1.24-5.66, P=0.01), reported David Meltzer, MD, PhD, of the University of Chicago, and colleagues.

However, no significant associations between vitamin D levels and COVID-19 risk were noted for white individuals, they noted in JAMA Network Open.

"These new results tell us that having vitamin D levels above those normally considered sufficient is associated with decreased risk of testing positive for COVID-19, at least in Black individuals," Meltzer noted in a press release.

The study expands on findings of the group's previous analysis, which found that compared to those with "likely sufficient" vitamin D, individuals with vitamin D deficiency (levels less than 20 ng/ml) had a 77% increased risk of testing positive for COVID-19.

A separate study recently found that over 80% of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 were vitamin D deficient.”


https://www.medpagetoday.com/infectiousdisease/covid19/91723

[hlthe2b]

11. the OP sites opinion from McGill University in Canada--a known bastion of anti-CDC RW conservatism

Paul Alexander, who had no medical background was recruited from there (and the associated McMaster University in Canada) by Trump to decimate CDC's policy development and information distribution around COVID-19.

That the OP did not realize that highly RW source of his information is inexcusable, frankly, even if it meshes with his own opinions.

[Phoenix61]

15. Interesting.

I’ve been trying to find the study where vitamin D supplementation was given for a week to hospitalized covid patients. The results were impressive. The idea that one does would be effective is rather ludicrous when you consider how almost all other meds work. Even Z-pac is 3 days.

[womanofthehills]

33. The Director, Schwarcz shills for MONSANTO -

Canada: Dr. Joe Schwarcz, McGill University’s Renowned “Popularizer of Science,” Shills for Monsanto

Dr. Joe Schwarcz of Montreal’s McGill University is a well-known media “popularizer of science,” and clearly on someone’s payroll.

Whose: A consortium of biotechnology companies, including Monsanto (see funding data below).

Frightening to consider that Dr. Schwarcz – a paid public diplomat for Monsanto – “interprets science” for the public.

Dr. Schwarzc has stalked and libelled anti-aspartame activists, smeared GM opponent/canola farmer Percy Schmeiser (see below). He has even harassed me, on occasion, with misplaced, adolescent ridicule.

https://constantinereport.com/canada-dr-joe-schwarcz-mcgill-universitys-renowned-popularizer-of-science-shills-for-monsanto/

[jcgoldie]

6. Go outside

Thats the huge deficiency in modern society. Supplements cannot substitute for it.

[hlthe2b]

12. I try to myself, but as you age and in some individuals absorption/conversion is inadequate.

to ensure required levels of Vitamin D.

[PortTack]

7. No one is CLAIMING it's a cure! It lessens severe symptoms

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2770157

https://www.healthline.com/health-news/new-study-found-80-percent-of-covid-19-patients-were-vitamin-d-deficient

Dr Fauci says vitamin D and C are part of his personal regime

If you are in the medical field, then you understand that medicine is NOT an exact science! Why is it you feel compelled to bash ppls personal use of vitamins and supplements? My question to you is strictly rhetorical, so no need to answer.

Posting this so others get the other side..because whether YOU think it is helpful or not, lots of other ppl do!!

[hlthe2b]

9. Yes. This is why the post is so misleading.

[enough]

10. Thanks. NT

[PortTack]

23. Welcome!!

[HUAJIAO]

26. Thank you !!

[Dream Girl]

32. Exactly. I have seen a number of Covid and Via D studies. I've never seen it claimed as a cure but

To prevent severe Covid. This is so misleading...

[Celerity]

39. Plus the OP is using RW sources, one that has historical ties to Trump's minion Pecker (hush money)

They used the link from the also problematic (as shown by other posters on the this thread) McGill Uni to try to give it an air of respectability.





https://montrealgazette.com/opinion/columnists/christopher-labos-the-truth-about-vitamin-d-and-covid-19



https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/montreal-gazette/









other sources from the same bias label (for comparative purposes)

https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/right-center/

Barron’s
Being Libertarian (beinglibertarian.com)
Boston Herald (www.bostonherald.com)
Cato Institute (www.cato.org)
Chicago Tribune (www.chicagotribune.com)
Drudge Report (www.drudgereport.com)
Fox Business (foxbusiness.com)
Hoover Institution (www.hoover.org)
Libertarianism.org (www.libertarianism.org)
New York Post (nypost.com)
Rasmussen Reports (www.rasmussenreports.com)
Wall Street Journal (www.wsj.com)

[hlthe2b]

8. McGill University is where the Trump plant, Paul Alexander hailed & Trump used to defuse CDC's

efforts. So, I'd not be so broad brush. Like most universities, there are good programs and not-so-good. McGill is a bastion of RW conservatism in many of its programs and has long had issues with CDC's approach to global health as a result. I can recall some of their academics targeting CDC's efforts post NAFTA to get clean water systems along the US-Mexico border in their efforts to halt Hepatitis A spread. They felt it was just fine to have people living (on the US side of the border) without access to clean water and sanitation and lobbied against even NGO efforts to change that. They launched their RW academics who argued against the cost-benefit analyses, CDC produced-- in a most politically biased and unscientific manner).

Don't remember who Paul Alexander was? Let me remind you.

‘We want them infected’: Trump appointee demanded ‘herd immunity’ strategy, emails reveal

Then-HHS science adviser Paul Alexander called for millions of Americans to be infected as means of fighting Covid-19.

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/12/16/trump-appointee-demanded-herd-immunity-strategy-446408

CDC’s Redfield told staff to delete email, official tells House watchdog

The instruction was revealed during an investigation into the Trump administration’s political interference at the public health agency.

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/12/10/cdc-redfield-email-house-watchdog-444238



Not sure where your laudatory assessment of McGill University comes from. I don't share it. Nor do most on this side of the border, (nor many in Canada) for sure.

[Pobeka]

16. Thanks for digging this up.

I am not megadosing Vit D & C, but making sure I am not deficient, which is an entirely different question.

[Celerity]

40. +1

[Mosby]

13. Vitamin A helps with respiratory issues.

https://www.who.int/elena/titles/bbc/vitamina_pneumonia_children/en/

[mainer]

14. Oh for god's sake. Vit D was never considered a cure.

But it has been pointed out that pre-existing Vit. D deficiency is correlated with worse Covid outcomes.

Of course correlation does not equate causation, but the correlation is strong enough to make Vit. D supplementation a benign and perhaps helpful strategy.

[liberal_mama]

20. Some Trumpers said that Vitamin D was a cure

A Trumper neighbor says to me, "Take off your face diaper and get some Vitamin D and you'll be fine."

[phylny]

25. I might respond, "Unlike you, shit doesn't come

flying out of MY mouth.”

[mitch96]

21. This was interesting. People taking baby aspirn also had better outcomes when they did get covid

So I see it as a easy way to protect your self if you do get the virus. Mask/wash/distance/VitD and baby aspirin... None of which can hurt you.. unless you have problems with vit d and or aspirin.. YMMV
m

The team looked at the records of 412 patients admitted to several US hospitals between March and July 2020. About 24% of the patients received aspirin within 24 hours of hospital admission, or in the seven days before hospital admission. But most, 76%, did not receive the drug. Aspirin use was associated with a 44% reduction in mechanical ventilation, a 43% reduction in ICU admission, and a 47% reduction for in-hospital mortality, the researchers found.

tinyurl.com/ytrvhyn6

https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/18/health/aspirin-coronavirus-icu-wellness/index.html

[mainer]

22. The ASA may have reduced clotting associated with COVID

So it certainly make sense that aspirin would be useful.s

[Qutzupalotl]

24. Correct. I have seen it touted as a kind of preventative,

and not against infection but for improving symptoms and outcomes. You could still be an asymptomatic transmitter, of course.

[ismnotwasm]

17. Vit D and Calcium are great for healthy bones!

My husband has MS and is chronically deficient. There is a potential and not proven genetic link relating to generational Vit D deficiency and MS, possibly through chromosome damage along the maternal line.

He takes a supplement. Doesn’t cure his MS either.

[Maru Kitteh]

18. Well! I take D and I've had Covid patients cough all over me and

I didn't get Covid! You know why? Because I am meticulous about my PPE donning/doffing, and stripped naked in the garage every night and O3'd my contaminated uniform before heading into the house.

I take D because I'm deficient without it and I don't want my bones to turn to dust in the years ahead.

SO THERE!

[SWBTATTReg]

19. My take is w/ those that take vit. D supplements, my doctor also recommended a daily dose of

vit. D too, and I listen/follow my doc's advice.

One ? that I pose to those that question the effectiveness of vit. D on the body...why does the body manufacture vit. D (I don't think any other vitamins are made by the body, I may be wrong).

[demigoddess]

27. I live in an area that they recommend using Vit D because we get so little sun.

I take it, but I still wear a mask and stay home A LOT, except for getting my vaccine.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

29. K&R.

[iemanja]

31. I don't recall any claims that it cures COVID

rather than it may help with strengthening your system to make you less susceptible.

I also think it's worth pointing out that Brazil may not be the best place for studying Vitamin D since its population gets a lot of sun. Most people in cold, northern climates are vitamin D deficient. I suspect most Brazilians, with the possible exception of residents of the city of Sao Paulo, are not. Also, I've been told by my doctor that the body can't absorb more than 5000 to 6000 IU at a time. That's why there is no point in taking tons of capsules at a time.

[KewlKat]

34. I thought the Vitamin D was to boost the immune system, making it harder to contract the COVID.

I don't recall reading anywhere that said it was a cure.

I know for MS and prostate cancer patients are often checked for Vitamin D levels and are prescribed it as they are usually in the extreme low side of normal.

[former9thward]

35. Normally science does not rely on one study to prove or not prove anything.

That it not what the Scientific Hypothesis is and has never been done in experiments in my experience.

But in this one study cited in the OP they used toxic levels of Vitamin D. Twenty times what you are supposed to have. The toxic level of Vitamin D is 60,000 units. These people were given 200,000 units. Essentially poisoning them.

But it we found it didn't stop Covid!!!

[helpisontheway]

36. I don't think it is a cure..However, I have been vitamin D

deficient for years. My level has 12 ( when it should be between 30- 100). Also, it might not be necessary for everyone to take vitamin D I think it is important for those that have lo vitamin D. Vitamin D does support the immune system. Also, I take vitamin c immune booster,zinc,probiotic and apple cider vinegar. If there is something that can support my immune system I’m gonna take it. It might not keep me from getting Covid but it will not hurt me. Just as some people thinking I’m ridiculous because I double mask. And others think I’m ridiculous because I wear respirator masks instead of the sparkly cute ones.

[Binkie The Clown]

37. Too many articles that start with "The truth about..." are followed by someone's opinion.

WebMD has another "The truth about..." article that says the opposite.

https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20210128/vitamin-d-might-help-fight-covid-19