In a new study, researchers found that patients with vitamin D deficiency are much more likely to be positive for COVID-19.
The research was conducted by a team at the University of Florida.
In the study, the team examined the strength of the association between vitamin D deficiency and COVID-19.
Data were included from the i2b2 patient’s registry platform at the University of Florida Health Center for the period of Oct. 1, 2015, through June 30, 2020.
The researchers found that compared with patients with no deficiency, those with vitamin D deficiency were 4.6 times more likely to be positive for COVID-19.
After adjustment for other factors like age and other health conditions, the link decreased slightly but remained robust.
The team also found diabetes, obesity, and gum disease are linked to an increased risk for both COVID-19 and vitamin D deficiency.
They say the most important finding was that vitamin D deficiency increased the risk of developing COVID-19 by a factor of 5 after adjusting for age.
Future studies are required to validate the hypothesis that vitamin D supplementation can be helpful for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19.
One author of the study is Joseph Katz, D.M.D.
The study is published in Nutrition.
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