There has been much talk lately on whether vitamin D could be useful in the fight against Covid-19 as well as other diseases.
Humans most likely developed in the Horn of Africa, close to the Equator more than 30,000 years ago. They spent their days out in the full sun, with no clothing, hunting and gathering food. Their skin pigment evolved and protected them from sunburn and allowed the production of vitamin D through the skin. Nature never intended for humans to live and work indoors, in cubicles, without sunshine exposure. How much more of that have we been doing since the Covid crisis – working from home and not getting out as much?
Optimal vitamin D levels play a positive role in many body functions. Every cell in the body has a vitamin D receptor and it interacts with more than 3000 genes – so it’s important but what exactly does it do? Well, it acts as a hormone rather than a vitamin and works in association particularly with vitamin K2 and magnesium but the extent of its role is only just starting to be realised.
Vitamin D is best known for preventing rickets, a softening of bone in children, which was almost eradicated in the West but it is unfortunately seeing resurgence due to our fear of the sunshine. Insufficiency is associated with other bone diseases such as osteomalacia or osteoporosis, but more modern research has also linked it to a wide range of conditions including psoriasis, TB, multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, type 1 diabetes, high blood pressure, increased heart failure, myopathy, breast and other cancers. It is also known that a good level of vitamin D improves athletic performance.
More recently vitamin D has been shown to play a role in the immune system and hence the link to the possible improvement in Covid-19. This research is yet to be completed but in a very recent study (albeit small) in Spain more than 80% of the patients admitted to hospital for Covid-19 were vitamin D deficient.
The best way to get vitamin D is through sunshine – UVB rays interact with the skin (without sunscreen) to produce vitamin D, however for the past 50 years we have been warned off the sun, which could be why so many people are vitamin D deficient. A recent research paper has actually shed light on the benefits of moderate non-burning sun exposure and the authors concluded “non-burning UV exposure is a health benefit and – in moderation – should be recommended as such” (Toronto 2019).
In the absence of sunlight or sufficient sunlight however, you can get vitamin D through some foods, however supplementation is probably our best bet.
At Walnut Grove we sell a D3/K2 supplement, a perfect combination of vitamins D and K to ensure healthy levels of these vitamins are maintained.We have a wealth of expertise in these matters so please do contact us for more information.
