The coronavirus pandemic has claimed millions of lives and has weakened the immunity system of many by infecting them severely. The only way to fight against it is to boost our immunity.
Similarly, Vitamin D has proven to be effective in preventing the risk of multiple organ failure in COVID-19 patients.
Several studies show that Vitamin D acts as a protection against the severe outcomes of the infection such as Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) which affects 20% of the COVID-19 patients.
The overexpression of the cytokine proteins which signal the cells to activate the body’s immune system and Bradykinin proteins that lead to inflammation can cause multiple organ failure, known as cytokine or bradykinin storm. Vitamin D, however, works as immunomodulatory agents to protect against these outcomes.
Studies have shown that activated Vitamin D has a direct association with obstructing the cell-mediated inflammation caused by Th1 and the function of two cytokines that lead to organ failure. Also, activated Vitamin D increases the expression of cathelicidin that helps in the reduction of lung injury caused by excessive oxygen supply or hyperoxia.
Additionally, Vitamin D prevents the entry of the SARS-CoV-2 into the cell by reducing the expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) that enables the virus to enter the kidney tubule cells and protects the diabetics patients from kidney failure.
ARDS can be caused by high levels of Angiotensin II (Ang II) which causes higher blood pressure in the patients. A 2015 study has proved that Vitamin D supplements prevent the expression of Ang II resulting in decreasing the risk of interacting with ARDS or cardiac issues.
Thus, several studies have proved the effectiveness of Vitamin D in decreasing the severity of the Covid-19 virus and its role in preventing the risk of developing the infection.
