Good Lifestyle

As a doctor, I scratched my head and I think we can do what we can do to help us beat coronavirus.A response can lie in a simple vitamin: vitamin D. "If you are vitamin D deficient, this has an impact on your susceptibility to infection," saidDr. Anthony Fauci, the best expert in infectious disease of the nation. "So it would not bother me to recommend, and I do it myself by taking vitamin D supplements."Read at the end to see if you need more of this important vitamin and to ensure your health and health of others, do not miss theseWithout signs that you have already had coronavirus.

"Low levels of vitamin D can put people at risk of developing CVIV-19, according to a new study of Leumemit Health Services and the Faculty of Medicine of Azrieli at the University of Bar-Ilan," reports theJerusalem Post. "The main finding of our study has been the large association of low plasma vitamin D with the probability of CVIV-19 infection in patients tested for Covid-19", say to researchers. "In addition, the level of low vitamin D was associated with the risk of hospitalization due to COVID-19 infection."

Have you thought about vitamin D? Up to 60% of the US population are estimated at low levels of vitamin D could you be one of them? If you are considering a vitamin D supplement? Let's start with the basics.

Vitamin D is an essential vitamin-essential because our body can not exist without it. There are two forms of vitamin D:D2 andD3.

• Vitamin D2 Comes from the diet - It is found in oily fish, egg yolks, red meat, liver, fat latent and fortified cereals. The food intake of vitamin D2 is vital because we can not synthesize this into our body. Many people just do not like eating these foods and do not take enough vitamin D2.
• Vitamin D3 is made in the skin in response to Sunlight-UVB radiation. However, many of us are also deficient of this too. This occurs especially in winter, when the days are short and dark. In addition, using SPF FACTOR 30 solar screen for protection against skin cancer, reduces 95% UVB skin absorption.

It may not be a coincidence thatSeasonal influenzaand other peak respiratory infections in the winter months.

50%the world is deficient of vitamin D. This affects one billion people around the world. How could this be? Here is a partial list of reasons:

• Social and cultural - Less people work outside today for long periods. The eating habits of the people more have changed.
• Skin color Increased amounts of darker skin melanin absorb larger amounts of UVB. Dark dark people need more UVB exposure than more accurate skin people to get adequate vitamin D levels.
• Older people - In the USA,60%people in retirement homes and57%In the hospital, vitamin D is deficient. They can not go out no time, tend to wear long-sleeved clothes and cover more more, they can have a small appetite or eat a bad diet.
• Babies, children, pregnant women and breastfeeders - They all increased vitamin D requirements and consumption may not match the demand.

Vitamin D has two important roles:

1. Metabolism of calcium and phosphorus

Vitamin DIncreases blood levels of calcium and phosphorus. It also regulates an osteoblastic activity (bone building) and osteoclastic (bone clearance). It is used to prevent and treat osteoporosis. However, the mega-doses of vitamin D are not recommended. It should be used in the recommended dosage.

2. Support the body's defense mechanism against infection

Vitamin D has many complex effects on body defense mechanisms. He plays a role in maintaining thebarrier functionfrom skin and other surfaces of epithelial cells. He is also involved inInnate immunity- This is the ability of your body to recognize and destroy an invasive body. Vitamin D also plays a role inadaptive immunity- The way your body produces an antibody response.

Evidence accumulates potential health risks associated with low levels of vitamin D. It should be emphasized that these are studies of studies that report data collected in specific populations / situations and that these statistics have been observed, it does not prove causality. More research is needed. However, the links between low levels of vitamin D and many different diseases are always relevant and a great interest in public health.

In2017, the newspaperPlos a, reported a meta-analysis of 26,916 participants regarding vitamin D and mortality. The authors concluded that low blood levels of vitamin D, no value of 30 Nmol / L-had considerably higher mortality than those with recommended levels from 75 to 99.9 Nmol / L.

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Vitamin D deficiency has been reported:

• To increase the risk of breast cancer, prostate and intestine, from 30 to 50%.
• Increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Vitamin D stimulates the production of nitric oxide and helps prevent oxidative stress. There seems to be a link between low levels of vitamin D and arterial hypertension. Vitamin D can have an anticoagulant effect. This can also have a role in reversing atherosclerosis.
• Increase the risk of the beginning of diabetes. Vitamin D deficiency is associated with insulin resistance and pancreatic cell function.
• Perform cerebral function. Vitamin D works a neurotransmitter and also has a protective role for brain tissue. Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to a higher risk of depression, Alzheimer's disease and epilepsy.

Note, otherstudieshave reported a reduction in mortality in people taking vitamin D supplements.

1. Eating foods rich in vitamin D, such as fatty fish (tuna, salmon); Fortified foods of vitamin D, such as dairies and cereals; cheese; eggs (yellows); beef liver and anythose.
2. Expose your skin in the sun, without sunscreen. For people with clear skin 15 to 20 minutes a day. For dark people from 20 to 40 minutes a day.
3. Consider taking a vitamin D supplement.

The Mayo clinic "recommends that adults get at least the GDR of 600 IU. However, 1,000 to 2,000 IU per day of vitamin D surcharges is generally safe, should help people reach a level of adequate vitamin D and can have health benefits. "

For the vast majority of people, if you take vitamin D supplements in the recommended levels, so it's safe. However, as for any new drug / regular complement, if you have medical conditions or take drugs, it is strongly recommended to chat with your doctor in advance. It is possible to have a blood test to check your levels of vitamin D - however, this is rarely deemed necessary.

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Vitamin D is well tolerated and side effects are rare. The most common side effects are rashes or urticaria, skin hives. The most serious side effect is hypercalchalem - a level of raised calcium - but this is only possible when you take high levels of vitamin D for long periods and is very rare. If you already know that you already have high calcium levels, do not start vitamin D supplements.

The signs / symptoms of the toxicity of vitamin D include

• Anorexia
• Vomiting
• Tired
• Weakness
• The thirst
• Urine that frequently passes
• Constipation

If you take vitamin D supplements and develop these symptoms, you must see your doctor without delay.

Do not take vitamin D supplements if you have:

• Hypercalcemia (too much calcium in your blood)
• Severe renal disease
• Kidney stones
• Heart disease - and / or take digoxin
• Sarcoidosis
• Allergy to vitamin D, or any product in vitamin D
• Other allergies - Vitamin D drops contain peanut oil, aspartame and other substances, such as food dyes and dyes. Check the ingredients of the product carefully.
• Check with your doctor before taking supplements.

• Anticonvulsants - Enzyme - inducing eg. Carbamazepine, phenytoin, topiramate and non-enzyme inducing eg. Gabapsentin, Lamotrigine
• Benzodiazepines - for example. Diazepam, Nitrazepam
• Steroids - for example. Prednisolone taken by mouth
• Digoxin - There is a risk of toxicity of digoxin
• Cholestyramine - This prevents the absorption of vitamin D
• Actinomycin -It possibly inhibited the absorption of gut vitamin D
• Imidazole - This inhibits the activation of vitamin D in the kidney

This list is not exhaustive. If you take regular medications, always check with your doctor or pharmacist before starting to take additional medications.

• Vitamin D is available in tablet, capsule, soft gel or drops.
• Choose the preparation / brand that best suits you and the appropriate recommended dosage. There is no advantage of taking large doses of vitamin D, which can be harmful, so that it is therefore attempt to exceed the recommended dose.
• Take care because all vitamin D products contain the same amount of vitamin D - cholecalciferol. In2013 study, published in theAMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION JOURNALThe researchers tested various brands of vitamin D and found that the power of cholecalciferol ranged from 9 to 146% of the declared dose. Only one manufacturer provided a product within 90 to 120% of the expected power.

When choosing a vitamin D product, always look at the back of the package and verify that the product isUSPchecked. This means that the products have been rigorously tested and the ingredients have been verified.

• Vitamin DThe options are available for Vegans.
• Take vitamin D just before a meal. This is a soluble vitamin in the fats and if you take it on an empty stomach, it is unlikely that you are absorbed.
• You usually take vitamin D once a day, either in the morning or the night. If you do not have breakfast breakfast, take the evening, just before your evening meal.
• It is suggested that vitamin D may interfere with the production of melatonin, although there is no evidence that it affects sleep, but you may prefer to take it in the early evening.
• Make sure you always drink a lot of liquids.
• If you forget your daily dose, miss the day and take it by the next day.

UKscientificNotified that you should not take high levels of vitamin D for the purpose of preventing or treating COVID-19. However, some experts suggest the opposite.

In a publication from March 2020 in the journalNutrientsThe authors examined the current medical evidence and suggested that vitamin D supplementation could reduce the risk of influenza, Covid-19 and death.

They presented evidence suggesting that higher vitamin D levels in the population would reduce the risk of acute respiratory tract infections, including influenza, CVIV-19 and pneumonia. They also suggested that the additional vitamin D be launched now, to increase the levels before the beginning of the winter.

But on the contrary, British scientists warn that caution is needed. The evidence currently available comes from observation studies only that do not prove causality. In addition, high levels of vitamin D can be harmful.

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The question of vitamin D deficiency and the threat of Covid-19 has recently been discussed in theNew York Times. They have reached a judicious conclusion - than those that can not achieve sufficient vitamin D of their diet should consider a supplement of 1000-2000 IU / day.

It seems to me that vitamin D deficiency is so common, supplementation is safe and can indeed have many understandable benefits for our overall health. It's something relatively easy that we can do, which is likely to be beneficial and not detrimental to ourselves and those we love. Whether or not it will help you protect us from COVID-19 is unknown - but maybe ... just maybe? In addition, to cross this pandemic with your healthiest, do not miss these35 places you are most likely to catch Covid..

Dr. Deborah Lee is a medical writer forDr. Fox Online Pharmacy.