1. VitaminD supplementation for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19: a position statement from the Spanish Society of Geriatrics and Gerontology.
- Author
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Tarazona-Santabalbina FJ, Cuadra L, Cancio JM, Carbonell FR, Garrote JMP, Casas-Herrero Á, Martínez-Velilla N, Serra-Rexach JA, and Formiga F
- Subjects
- Aged, COVID-19 complications, COVID-19 immunology, COVID-19 prevention & control, Humans, Receptors, Calcitriol metabolism, Societies, Medical, Spain, Vitamin D immunology, Vitamin D Deficiency complications, Vitamins immunology, COVID-19 therapy, Cytokine Release Syndrome prevention & control, Dietary Supplements, Geriatrics, Vitamin D administration & dosage, Vitamin D Deficiency therapy, Vitamins administration & dosage
- Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) produces severe respiratory symptoms such as bilateral pneumonia associated to a high morbidity and mortality, especially in patients of advanced age. Vitamin D deficiency has been reported in several chronic conditions associated with increased inflammation and dysregulation of the immune system. Vitamin D in modulates immune function too. Vitamin D receptor (VDR) is expressed by most immune cells, including B and T lymphocytes, monocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells and the signalling of vitamin D and VDR together has an anti-inflammatory effect. Some studies have reported that vitamin D treatment could be useful for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 because vitamin D plays an important role as a modulator of immunocompetence. Over the last few months, some studies have hypothesized the possible beneficial effect of vitamin D supplementation in patients with COVID-19 in order to improve the immune balance and prevent the hyperinflammatory cytokine storm. Some preliminary studies have already shown promising results with vitamin D supplementation in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Vitamin D should be administered daily until adequate levels are achieved due to vitamin D behaves as a negative acute phase reactant (APR). Despite the lack of evidence on specific doses of vitamin D to treat COVID-19 in older adults, authors consider it is necessary to standardize the use in clinical practice. These recommendations advice supplement vitamin D in a protocoled fashion based on expert opinions, level of evidence 5., (Copyright © 2021 SEGG. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2021
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