An astounding study using high-dose vitamin D suggests that a single dose — 300,000 IUs — could be an effective tool for both preventing and treating COVID-19.
Study authors noted that besides its viral infection-fighting capabilities, vitamin D also has anticoagulant effects. Prior studies with COVID-19 infected patients have shown a correlation between vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency and COVID infection as well as other respiratory infections and many chronic diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular conditions.
A conundrum that the authors noted was that “quarantine [such as that imposed with the pandemic] would lead to a decreased intake of vitamin D in diet and reduced outdoor sunlight exposure activity” — both of which work to boost vitamin D levels.
As a preventative or treatment, the 300,000 IUs can be delivered in a single dose orally, the authors said, although in patients with severe conditions, the dose can be given intramuscularly by injection, with an additional 300,000 IUs in two or three months, if needed. Authors noted that vitamin D treatments are already used in pregnant women who are deficient or insufficient in vitamin D and with some HIV and rheumatic patients.
“The low-risk and low-cost administration of vitamin D is worth trying to help control the global pandemic and vitamin D supplementation is an easily acceptable treatment for people,” study authors said.
SOURCE: Drug Design, Development and Therapy August 21, 2020