Dr. Tom Frieden: Coronavirus infection risk may be reduced by Vitamin D

[Just AnotherPerson]

Former CDC Chief Dr. Tom Frieden: Coronavirus infection risk may be reduced by Vitamin D

See more at the link: https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/form...with-vitamin-d

Excerpt:

As we race to develop effective treatments and a vaccine against COVID-19, people are looking to reduce their risk of getting sick. One thing that might help is as obvious as the sun in the sky and as close as your medicine cabinet – Vitamin D.

Higher COVID-19 mortality rates among older people and those with chronic conditions suggest that a weakened immune system contributes to poor outcomes. There are many crackpot claims about miracle cures floating around, but the science supports the possibility – although not the proof – that Vitamin D may strengthen the immune system, particularly of people whose Vitamin D levels are low.

Vitamin D supplementation reduces the risk of respiratory infection, regulates cytokine production and can limit the risk of other viruses such as influenza. A respiratory infection can result in cytokine storms – a vicious cycle in which our inflammatory cells damage organs throughout the body – which increase mortality for those with COVID-19. Adequate Vitamin D may potentially provide some modest protection for vulnerable populations.

[Just AnotherPerson]

Arthritis drug used to treat coronavirus patients in China helped to cure 95 per cent of critically ill, scientists say

See more at the link https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/112566...rus-cure-hope/

Excerpt:

The drug - manufactured by Swiss giant Roche - works by reducing levels of certain proteins in the body which people with rheumatoid arthritis have too much of.

Medics in China trialed tocilizumab to combat an overreaction of the immune system witnessed in some of those struck down with the killer virus.

The shocking condition is seen as a major factor behind catastrophic organ failure which has lead to death in some patients.

Doctors in the outbreak centre of China first used the drug last month on those with "severe and critical' symptoms" and they say the results were astounding.

Within a few days, patients' fever returned to normal and all other symptoms improved remarkably, Dr Xiaoling Xu and colleagues report.

Fifteen of the 20 trial patients were able to have their oxygen intake lowered within days and 19 patients were eventually discharged.The other patient is recovering well, the study claims.

CT scans also showed damage to the lungs reduced significantly around the fourth and fifth day of treatment.

The report authors conclude: 'Tocilizumab is an effective treatment in severe patients of COVID-19, which provided a new therapeutic strategy for this fatal infectious disease.'

Roche, which donated £1.5m worth of Actemra during February, said the trial was initiated independently by a third party with the aim of exploring the efficacy and safety of the drug in coronavirus patients.

[Just AnotherPerson]

See more at the link https://sports.yahoo.com/coronavirus...210543195.html

Excerpt:

One side effect of COVID-19 is a so-called "cytokine storm," in which the virus causes the immune system to overreact. Actemra by Roche (RHHBY) and Kevzara, by Sanofi (SNY) and Regeneron (REGN), are existing arthritis drugs which may also be able to counter a cytokine storm. Available in April.

[FindersKeepers]

All good info! I take Vit D as part of my daily vitamin regimen, so I'm happy to hear that. This may be a new virus, and we may be just learning about it -- but we are going to find out more -- like this information, and eventually we're going to put this thing to bed.

[Peter1469]

Vitamin D is essential for a strong immune system.

It is now clear that vitamin D has important roles in addition to its classic effects on calcium and bone homeostasis. As the vitamin D receptor is expressed on immune cells (B cells, T cells and antigen presenting cells) and these immunologic cells are all are capable of synthesizing the active vitamin D metabolite, vitamin D has the capability of acting in an autocrine manner in a local immunologic milieu. Vitamin D can modulate the innate and adaptive immune responses. Deficiency in vitamin D is associated with increased autoimmunity as well as an increased susceptibility to infection. As immune cells in autoimmune diseases are responsive to the ameliorative effects of vitamin D, the beneficial effects of supplementing vitamin D deficient individuals with autoimmune disease may extend beyond the effects on bone and calcium homeostasis.


The immune system defends the body from foreign, invading organisms, promoting protective immunity while maintaining tolerance to self. The implications of vitamin D deficiency on the immune system have become clearer in recent years and in the context of vitamin D deficiency, there appears to be an increased susceptibility to infection and a diathesis, in a genetically susceptible host to autoimmunity.



The classical actions of vitamin D are to promote calcium homeostasis and to promote bone health. Vitamin D enhances absorption of calcium in the small intestine and stimulates osteoclast differentiation and calcium reabsorption of bone. Vitamin D additionally promotes mineralization of the collagen matrix in bone. In humans, vitamin D is obtained from the diet or it is synthesized it in the skin (reviewed in [1]). As vitamin D is cutaneously produced after exposure to UV B light, its synthesis is influenced by latitude, season, use of sunblock and skin pigmentation. Melanin absorbs UVB radiation inhibiting the synthesis of vitamin D from 7-dihydrocholesterol. This initial vitamin D compound is inactive and it is next hydroxylated in the liver to form 25 OH vitamin D3 (25 D). 25 D is also an inactive compound, but is the most reliable measurement of an individual’s vitamin D status. It is converted in the kidney to the active compound 1,25 dihydroxy vitamin D (1,25 D) or calcidiol by 1-α-hydroxylase (CYP27B1), an enzyme which is stimulated by PTH . 1,25 D may be further metabolized to the inactive 1,24,25 vitamin D by 24-hydroxylase (CYP24). 1,25 D levels are tightly regulated in a negative feedback loop. 1,25 D both inhibits renal 1-α-hydroxylase and stimulates the 24-hydroxylase enzymes, thus maintaining circulating levels within limited boundaries and preventing excessive vitamin D activity/signaling.

[Just AnotherPerson]

All good info! I take Vit D as part of my daily vitamin regimen, so I'm happy to hear that. This may be a new virus, and we may be just learning about it -- but we are going to find out more -- like this information, and eventually we're going to put this thing to bed.

I sure hope you are right friend.