COVID-19 patients in a hospital in Spain have vitamin D deficiency.Vitamin D is a hormone the kidneys produce that controls blood calcium concentration and impacts the immune system.
Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to a variety of health concerns, although research is still underway into why the hormone impacts other systems of the body.
Many studies point to the beneficial effect of vitamin D on the immune system, especially regarding protection against infections."One approach is to identify and treat vitamin D deficiency, especially in high-risk individuals such as the elderly, patients with comorbidities, and nursing home residents, who are the main target population for the COVID-19," said study co-author Jose L.