What Vitamins Fight COVID 19?

Are there vitamins that can reduce your risk of getting COVID-19?  What supplements is Dr. Fauci taking to keep his immune system in good health?  A Boston University School of Medicine study found that vitamin D “improves your ability to fight infectious diseases, including viral infections”.  

The studies on COVID and Vitamin D

A study on vitamin D and COVID was conducted by the University of Chicago and another study was conducted by Boston University School of Medicine. 

University of Chicago study:  489 patients had vitamin D levels measured before during the year before they were tested for COVID-19.  Of this cohort, 71 or 15% of study participants tested positive for COVID-19.  They found that people who were deficient in vitamin D were almost twice as likely to test positive for COVID-19 compared to participants who were sufficient in vitamin D levels. 

The University of Boston study looked at the vitamin D and COVID 10 infection rates in over 190,000 people.  According to one of the study authors, Doctor Michael F. Holick, “If you’re Vitamin D deficient, you have a 54% higher risk of acquiring this infection compared to people who were vitamin D sufficient.”  He went on to say, “this was for all ages, for all ethnicities, and for all latitudes in the United States in all 50 states.”   

How many Americans are low in vitamin D?

According to NIH, about 40% of adults in the U.S are deficient in vitamin D.  NIH notes “that vitamin D deficiency is becoming epidemic across the United States...”  Most at risk are African-Americans, Mexican-Americans, people who are obese, and people with diabetes.  Interesting that those over 65 are less likely to be vitamin D deficient.  Maybe because they go outside more or are more likely to take supplements that provide Vitamin D.

How can we get vitamin D?

There are 3 ways to get vitamin D.  From foods like cow’s milk, from being out in the sun, and from supplements.  NIH states: “the daily consumption of milk products serves as an effective prophylaxis against vitamin D deficiency”.  That would be real cow’s milk which is fortified with vitamin D and yogurt which is usually fortified with vitamin D.  (Buy milk in the carton, not a plastic container to avoid all the plastic now in our diets.) Cheese is not a good source of vitamin D as cheese is not usually fortified with D.  Some other foods that provide vitamin D are fatty fish including salmon, tuna and mackerel, liver and eggs.  Orange juice provides no vitamin D unless you choose calcium-fortified OJ that is also fortified with vitamin D.  For more information on foods and vitamin D, go to my blog, Can vitamin D help you fight off COVID-19?

How does vitamin D fight infections, like COVID-19?

Most people know we need vitamin D for strong bones.  But many people don’t know we also need vitamin D for healthy immune systems.  According to one of the study authors, Dr. David Meltzer, “Vitamin D is important to the function of the immune system and vitamin D supplements have previously been shown to lower the risk of viral respiratory tract infections”. 

How much vitamin D is recommended each day?

• Infants, birth to 12 months:  400 IU
• Children 1-13 years:  600 IU
• Teens 14-18 years:  600 IU
• Adults 1-70 years:  600 IU
• Adults 71 years and older:  800 IU

It is interesting that Dr. Fauci takes vitamin D supplements to keep his immune system healthy along with Vitamin C.   (NIH also notes that vitamin C helps your immune system.)

This week to boost your immune system, go outside every day for some sunshine, drink some real milk at meals.  I drink real cow’s milk at every meal or enjoy a yogurt at lunch.  I go outside every day and start my day with a glass of real 100% juice for my vitamin C.  If you don’t like milk, then enjoy some calcium-fortified OJ that also has vitamin D.  (Read the label to be sure calcium and vitamin D have been added.)  And calcium-fortified OJ is a good choice as you get vitamin D and vitamin C in each serving.  Or try some Naked Juice with added vitamin D. 

Real juice with added vitamin D but no added sugar.

 Sources:  study, found , Chicago, authors , NIH , states , foods , authors , recommended, Fauci , notes    Image Sources: Vitamin D milk  , Naked Juice , Vitamin D