Vitamin D supplement helped Covid-19 patients: PGI study

Naina Mishra

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 18

In a study published recently, doctors from the PGIMER have established the role of vitamin D supplement in achieving SARS-CoV-2 RNA negativity among Covid patients.

As per the existing literature, vitamin D has an immunomodulatory effect and may reduce susceptibility and severity of viral infections.

The study titled ‘Short term, high-dose vitamin D supplementation for Covid-19 disease’ was carried out by Dr Ashu Rastogi, Dr Anil Bhansali, Dr Niranjan Khare, Dr Vikas Suri, Dr Narayana Yaddanapudi, Dr Naresh Sachdeva, Dr GD Puri and Dr Pankaj Malhotra.

As many as 40 asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic Covid positive patients and those deficient in vitamin D were enrolled for the study. Patients requiring invasive ventilation or with significant comorbidities were excluded from the study.

The participants were subsequently randomised (16 in the intervention arm and 24 to the control arm) in the study. A total of 10 out of 16 (62.5 per cent) participants in the intervention group achieved SARS-CoV-2 negativity compared to five out of 24 (20.8 per cent) participants in the control arm.

The study concluded that a high dose of oral vitamin D supplement helped to achieve SARS-CoV-2 RNA negativity in greater proportion of asymptomatic vitamin D-deficient individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection, along with a significant decrease in inflammatory marker.

“SARS-CoV-2 RNA negativity by cholecalciferol (vitamin D) supplementation may help in reducing the transmission rate of the highly contagious SARS-CoV-2 infection,” reads the conclusion.

SARS CoV-2 negativity beneficial

The newer recommendations by regulatory bodies, including the ICMR, do not mandate repeated SARS CoV-2 RNA testing to document SARS CoV-2 negativity before discharging the asymptomatic individuals. Hence, achieving SARSCoV-2 negativity in greater proportions is likely to beneficial.

“A reassurance for public health workers regarding greater likelihood of SARS CoV-2 RNA negativity in individuals receiving therapeutic cholecalciferol supplementation will be encouraging,” said the study.

Results

• Daily cholecalciferol (vitamin D) supplementation of 60,000 IU helped in achieving the desired level of vitamin D in 75 per cent of the participants by Day 14.
• Therapeutic and high-dose cholecalciferol supplementation led to SARS-CoV-2 RNA negativity in additional 41.7 per cent of the participants. It was also useful for viral SARS-CoV-2 RNA clearance.

As many as 40 asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic Covid positive patients and those deficient in vitamin D were enrolled for the study. Patients requiring invasive ventilation or with significant comorbidities were excluded from the study.