Vitamin D is a group of fat-soluble vitamin responsible for increasing intestinal absorption of calcium, magnesium, and phosphate, and multiple other biological effects. Vitamin D plays an important role in bone metabolism through regulation of calcium and phosphate homeostasis and may also play an integral role in keeping the immune system healthy. Vitamin D is produced by the body during exposure to sunlight, however, it is also found in foods such as oily fish, eggs and fortified food products. Taking vitamin D supplements could help keep the respiratory system healthy, a crucial aspect in protecting one from coronavirus fatalities, according to latest study.
In the study, vitamin D supplementation to prevent acute respiratory tract infections was investigated.
The study noted: “The objective of this study is to assess the overall effect of vitamin D supplementation on risk of acute respiratory tract infections and to identify factors modifying this effect.”
The results showed that vitamin D supplementation reduced the risk of acute respiratory infections among all participants involved in the study.
The study concluded that vitamin D supplementation was safe and protected against acute respiratory tract infections overall.
Patients who were very vitamin D deficient and those not receiving the correct dose experienced the most benefit from supplementation.
In another study published in Science Daily found that scientist have discovered that vitamin D reduces respiratory infections, a potentially life-saving discovery in older patients at high risk of these illnesses.
Researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus have found that high doses of vitamin D reduce the incidence of acute respiratory illness (ARI) in older, long-term care residents.
The findings of the clinical trial, published today in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, could help reduce one of the leading causes of serious illness, debilitation and death among patients in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.
“After studying these patients for a year, we found a 40 percent reduction in acute respiratory illness among those who took higher doses of vitamin D,” said the study’s lead author, Adit Ginde, MD, MPH, professor of emergency medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.V
“Vitamin D can improve the immune system’s ability to fight infections because it bolsters the first line of defence of the immune system.”
Other ways to protect yourself
Get Plenty of Rest
Getting plenty of sleep is your best bet to stay health, whether there’s an outbreak or not.
Getting enough sleep is one of the most evidence-supported ways to stay health and also happens to be free.
According to the Mayo Clinic, the optimal amount of sleep for most adults is seven to eight hours of good sleep each night. Teenagers need nine to 10 hours of sleep. School-aged children may need 10 or more hours of sleep.
While the body is asleep, the body uses that time to do critical recovery and repair of essential functions, including the immune system.
Sleep expert Matthew Walker claims that “We also know that a lack of sleep impacts your immune system. So after just one night of four to five hours of sleep, there is a 70% reduction in critical anticancer-fighting immune cells called natural killer cells.”
Stay Hydrated
Although we often associate dehydration with hot weather, it’s equally important to maintain your hydration levels during winter.
Hydrating yourself with warm and cold drinks can help your body to eliminate toxins and waste materials, which is important for the immune system.
Try switching out your morning latte for hot water and lemon, it will keep you cosy and also help to fight off any unwanted illnesses.
Wash Your Hands
Experts consistently agree that the best way to prevent the spread of any disease is to wash your hands with soap and warm water.
Some of the best practices include washing your hands for at least 20 seconds, and drying them thoroughly.
