META-ANALYSIS SHOWS BENEFICIAL ROLE OF VITAMIN D IN COVID-19
As COVID-19 continues to rampage, the search for an effective therapy still remains elusive. Accordingly, multiple existing drugs have been repurposed for the management of COVID-19. In this context, vitamin D, a fat-soluble vitamin, which is primarily related to bone and mineral metabolism, has shown some promising results in COVID-19.
Summarizing the hitherto available clinical evidence, the doctors at PGIMER, Chandigarh have recently published a study at the Journal of Endocrinological Investigation entitled “Vitamin D supplementation and clinical outcomes in COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis”. The study was conducted by Dr. Rimesh Pal, Dr. Mainak Banerjee, Prof. Sanjay K. Bhadada, Dr. Anirudh J. Shetty, Dr. Birgurman Singh and Dr. Abhinav Vyas. “Pooled data from 13 studies showed that vitamin D supplemented after the diagnosis of COVID-19 leads to improved clinical outcomes in terms of reduced mortality and/or intensive care unit admission”, said Prof. Sanjay K. Bhadada, Head of Endocrinology Department at PGIMER, Chandigarh.
The study lends ample support to the fact that vitamin D can be used as an effective adjuvant treatment modality in patients hospitalized with COVID-19. The anti-viral and the immune modulatory role of vitamin D are perhaps helpful in this regard. Nevertheless, the irrational and rampant use of vitamin D to prevent COVID-19 should not a norm. “The use of vitamin D in high doses, especially injectable preparations, to prevent COVID-19 should be strongly discouraged. Vitamin D, supplemented prior to the diagnosis of COVID-19 was not found to improve clinical outcomes in our meta-analysis. Instead, overuse can lead to vitamin D toxicity”, added Prof. Sanjay K. Bhadada and Dr. Rimesh Pal.
