Deficiency in vitamins D and K linked to poor coronavirus outcomes
Scientists at the Cardiovascular Research Institute in the Netherlands have linked low levels of vitamin K to Covid-19 infected patients, who were more likely to be admitted to intensive care or even die.
And researchers at Brussels Free University found that men who were hospitalised with the infection were significantly more likely to have a vitamin D deficiency than healthy men of the same age.
This article was written by Colin Rose, a Senior Associate Member of the Royal Society of Medicine, who has been writing on science for 40 years.
Vitamin K – K1 and K2
Scientists at the Cardiovascular Research Institute in the Netherlands have linked low levels of vitamin K to Covid-19 infected patients who were more likely to be admitted to intensive care or even die.
Covid-19 leads to damage of elastic fibres in the lungs and to breathing difficulties. Vitamin K promotes the production of proteins that regulate clotting and can help protect against lung disease.
Dr Rob Janssen, who was part of the study, suggests that, since vitamin K is so safe, people should consider increasing their intake of vitamin K. The important exception is those on blood thinners like Warfarin, because vitamin K promotes healthy blood coagulation, and so works against blood thinners.
There are two forms of vitamin K. Vitamin K1 is found in spinach, broccoli, eggs and hard and blue cheeses.
Vitamin K2 is also found in cheeses, in a fermented soy product called natto, or in some better health supplements.
There is convincing evidence that vitamin K2 (but not K1) helps improve heart health by preventing calcium being deposited in arteries.
Because vitamin K2 plays a key role in the metabolism of calcium, other research shows that it also builds bone density and helps reduce the risk of osteoporosis.
So the only side effects of increasing your vitamin K status are positive – again with the exception of patients on Warfarin.
Vitamin D
Whilst there is no evidence that vitamin D can cut the risk of catching the coronavirus, there is evidence that a vitamin D deficiency is linked to poorer outcomes. Especially with higher risk patients who have other health issues.
Researchers at Brussels Free University compared vitamin D levels in 200 COVID-19 patients with more than 2,000 healthy people. Men who were hospitalised with the infection were significantly more likely to have a vitamin D deficiency than healthy men of the same age.
Vitamin D3 is created when your skin is exposed to sunlight, so although lockdown is easing, many people – especially those in at-risk categories – have been in situations where vitamin D production has been reduced.
BAME groups in Europe suffer greater vitamin D deficiency
People with dark skin may also not be getting enough vitamin D, even if they do spend time outdoors. Indeed, vitamin D deficiency among dark-skinned ethnic groups in Europe can be more than three times as high as they are in white people.
We also know that people from BAME – black, Asian and minority ethnic – backgrounds are disproportionately seriously affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Although the reasons are likely be numerous and complicated, some experts believe that a lack of vitamin D may play a role.
For these reasons, the NHS suggests people with an African, African-Caribbean or south Asian background could benefit from take a daily vitamin D supplement throughout the year.
Optimising vitamin D strengthens the immune response
A 2020 research paper in the journal Nutrients concluded that optimising vitamin D levels is associated with reducing viral infections by strengthening the physical immune response of the body and helping to reduce inflammation.
Since your first line of defence against both viral and bacterial threats is your immune system, it makes sense to ensure that it is a strong as possible. Vitamin D is undoubtedly a key element in that defence. And whilst no-one is seriously suggesting that vitamin D is a treatment for Covid-19, increasing your intake of vitamin D is a reasonable precaution for high risk groups.
There is some vitamin D in oily fish, liver and egg yolks but getting to a level of 2,000 IU of D3 a day, which many researchers are recommending, needs a supplement.
Get vitamins D3, K1, K2 AND 40 other key vitamins and nutrients
A final point. However powerful some vitamins are, good nutrition needs combination of both vitamins, minerals and flavonoids – the plant nutrients that are just as important to health and immune strength. So, we invite you to take a look at our own comprehensive supplement NutriShield.
This article was written by Colin Rose, a Senior Associate Member of the Royal Society of Medicine, who has been writing on science for 40 years.
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