Vitamin D, the right system for strengthening the immune system.
Did you know that people deficient in vitamin D are more at risk of developing a severe form of the illness Covid-19 ?
A recent Spanish survey, published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism noted in fact that over 80% of people suffering from Covid-19 are deficient, compared with 47% of the overall population!
80% of
Covid-19 patients are deficient
On the other hand, in a press release dated 23 May 2020, the Academy of Medicine confirmed that this vitamin adjusts the functioning of the immune system through the stimulation of macrophages and dendritic cells. Moreover, it "plays a role in the regulation and suppression of the cytokine inflammatory response, which causes acute respiratory distress syndrome characteristic of severe and often lethal forms of Covid-19".
Although it states that "vitamin D cannot be considered as a preventive or curative treatment of the SARS-CoV-2 infection", it recommends however :
- quickly measuring the vitamin D serum level (i.e. 25 OHD) in people aged 60 years and over suffering from Covid-19, and administering, in the case of a deficiency, a loading dose of 50,000 to 100,000 UI which can help to limit respiratory complications.
- taking a vitamin D supplement of 800 to 1000 UI/day for people aged 60 years and under on confirmation of the diagnosis of Covid-19.
On the same subject, last April, the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (Anses) underlined in a press release the importance of an adequate level of vitamin D, in the absence of sunshine, particular for the elderly, people with with matt or dark skin and menopausal women.
It recommends at least 15 minutes of sun exposure per day to cover daily needs. According to Dr Fouré, "all women over the age of 50 and everyone over the age of 75 should supplement their vitamin D levels. This is all the more necessary for bedridden people, in dependency care for example " .
Lastly, recent meta-analyses (grouping of several studies on the same subject) reported a protective effect of a vitamin D supplement on respiratory tract infections, as indicated by the WHO.
Fill up on vitamins during confinement
Synthesized by the sun, the vitamin D level decreases during poor weather conditions and confinement doesn’t help!
In April 2020, in a press release dedicated to confinement, Anses underlined the importance of
"ensuring adequate vitamin D levels"
In order to avoid the consequences on bone health such as the reduction of bone mass and consequently an increased risk of fracture.
Anses also reminds us of the importance of varying and balancing our diet throughout the year and regularly eating the following foods to cover our daily vitamin D requirements: two portions of fish per week, including one portion of oily fish.
A natural supplement can also help to bring the level of vitamin D back to a normal range.
Stim® D3, a unique formula highly concentrated in vitamin D3, especially developed for contributing to the immune defences and maintaining normal bones.