New Study Found an Association Between Low/Average Vitamin D and High Numbers of COVID-19 Cases and Mortality

A new study in Aging Clinical and Experimental Research found a connection between low average levels of vitamin D and high numbers of COVID-19 cases and mortality rates across 20 European countries, reports Technology Networks . Vitamin D regulates the response of white blood cells, preventing them from overproducing inflammatory cytokines, and COVID-19 is known to trigger such overproduction. Italy and Spain have seen high COVID-19 mortality rates, and the study indicates that both nations have lower average vitamin D levels than most northern European countries — partly because people in southern Europe, especially seniors, avoid strong sun, while skin pigmentation also lowers natural vitamin D synthesis. Northern Europe has the highest average vitamin D concentrations due to the consumption of cod liver oil and vitamin D supplements, and possibly less sunlight avoidance. Scandinavian countries are among the nations with the least number of COVID-19 cases and mortality rates per head of population in Europe. "Vitamin D has been shown to protect against acute respiratory infections, and older adults, the group most deficient in vitamin D, are also the ones most seriously affected by COVID-19," said Anglia Ruskin University's Lee Smith.