COVID-19 pandemic and vitamin D deficiency: a different approach with an analysis of the findings and a complimentary proposal

Virna M. Martín Giménez; Ivana Bergam; Felipe Inserra; León Ferder; Russel J. Reiter; Walter Manucha

Authors

Virna M. Martín Giménez Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias Químicas, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Tecnológicas, Universidad Católica de Cuyo, San Juan, Argentina
Ivana Bergam Croatia osiguranje, Pension Company for voluntary pension fund management, Vatroslava Jagića 33, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
Felipe Inserra Universidad Maimónides, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
León Ferder Universidad Maimónides, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Russel J. Reiter Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, UT Health San Antonio Long School of Medicine, San Antonio, TX, USA
Walter Manucha Área de Farmacología, Departamento de Patología, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina. and Instituto de Medicina y Biología Experimental de Cuyo (IMBECU), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), Mendoza, Argentina.

Keywords:

COVID-19, geographical differences, seasonal immune system, vitamin D deficiency, vitamin D status

Abstract

Vitamin D is an essential immune-modulator with receptors widely distributed throughout the body, and its serum levels fluctuate significantly in individuals between winter and summer months. This study examines the association between low vitamin D status and prevalence of COVID-19 cases around the world and proposes a relationship with the seasonal character of the human immune system strength rather than to the seasonal infectivity of viruses. Also, this review suggests that the observed geographical disparities in COVID-19 cases are due to differences in vitamin D levels. On the international scale, serum vitamin D levels are reportedly lowest in China, the Middle East, and South Europe; these populations also had the largest outbreaks of COVID-19 cases. In addition to the geographical differences in vitamin D status, there are known risk groups (ethnic, age-related, pregnancies). In contrast, some countries including Canada, Finland, and North Europe incorporate increased amounts of vitamin D through fortified foods, vitamin D supplements, and sunbathing. These countries show the lowest morbidity and mortality rates by COVID-19 infection and demonstrate that lower ambient temperatures do not contribute to a higher number of COVID-19 cases. COVID-19 has spread around the globe almost simultaneously in both warm and cold areas. Given this information, vitamin D measurement should become an essential component of public health monitoring as a biomarker of immunity status. Clinical trials should be conducted to confirm this hypothesis. COVID-19 tests should be performed together with vitamin D status tests to verify this proposed relationship.

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