Keywords
Chronic diseases
covid-19
coronavirus
Cytokine storm
influenza
pneumonia
Respiratory tract infection
solar radiation
How to Cite
Abstract
The severe respiratory syndrome, caused by the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), is a currently booming disease that has spread rapidly throughout the 5 continents. North America and some European countries such as Italy, Spain and France have been the most affected by this pandemic. Currently, there is no prevention or treatment strategy that can conclusively mitigate the numbers of infected and dead worldwide; however, alternatives are being studied that could positively impact the course of the disease. The deficiency of 25 hydroxy-vitamin D (25OH D) has shown to be an independent factor in all-cause mortality, mainly in cardiovascular disease and cancer. Supplementation of it has also been associated with benefits in the prevention of respiratory diseases. In the case of COVID-19, the mechanisms by which vitamin D could be useful for treatment and prevention are summarized in activity on physical barriers, and by natural cellular and adaptive immunity, reducing the probability of cytokine storm. Some studies concluded that the peak of SARSCoV-2 infection occurred during the winter, when the levels of 25OH D are lower. In addition, these suboptimal levels have been related to an increase in the incidence of complications such as heart failure, sepsis, and progression to adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and consequently an increase in mortality rates. This supports the role of vitamin D in modifying the natural course of the disease. However, the alarms are also triggered, since a high prevalence of hypovitaminosis D has been demonstrated in Bogotá, Villavicencio, Neiva, Barranquilla and Medellín that could expose the Colombian population to adverse results. The evidence indicates that vitamin D supplementation modulates and reduces the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, but more studies are needed to corroborate the beneficial effects in the population.
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