Pain in COVID-19: Quis est culpa

The pandemic situation due to COVID-19 has crippled the lives of the whole world population and has affected almost every individual in one way or the other. Researchers have been intrigued due to the increasing number of strains and symptoms. Several approaches have been used to control the spread of this highly infectious disease: early detection of the infected individual, development of a suitable drug and containment of the spread of this virus. Although, several vaccines have been developed, they have shown to have their own limitations and side-effects. One of the measures which has been adopted by the global health agencies is to educate people (infected or uninfected) regarding the maintenance of strong immune system to prevent the infection and lessen the health complications. There are several important factors which determine the immunity of an individual. Eating balanced diet and maintaining the proper supplication of nutritional components are being suggested by health experts to keep the immunity strong. Minerals and vitamins must be maintained in the diet for proper health and immunity. Vitamins have various roles in human physiology. In this review, the relevance of vitamins in the maintenance of immunity has been discussed and reviewed in prevention of adverse health effects of COVID-19.

2020

Corona Virus Disease 19 (COVID-19) remains a serious health problem worldwide cause by a novel Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARSCOV-2) which rapidly declared on 30-Jan-2020 as a global pandemic by WHO. Unfortunately, there is no effective treatment or vaccine available so far. The only preventive measure to break the spreading of the virus is by physical distancing, wearing masks, and lockdown of countries. All of the above mentioned measures implemented in European and African countries, despite that, the outbreak of the African countries has resulted in quite a few number of cases. Sever cases of COVID-19 is resulted from acute lung injury and cytokine storm. Vitamin D is wellknown to inhibit the pathological inflammatory immune response by suppressing the activation of Th1 cells and activation of T regulator cells, as a result of that, vitamin D could minimize the occurrence of the cytokine storm. African countries has a privilege of sunshine most of the year ...

Revista Española de Geriatría y Gerontología, 2021

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) produces severe respiratory symptoms such as bilateral pneumonia associated to a high morbidity and mortality, especially in patients of advanced age. Vitamin D deficiency has been reported in several chronic conditions associated with increased inflammation and dysregulation of the immune system. Vitamin D in modulates immune function too. Vitamin D receptor (VDR) is expressed by most immune cells, including B and T lymphocytes, monocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells and the signalling of vitamin D and VDR together has an anti-inflammatory effect. Some studies have reported that vitamin D treatment could be useful for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 because vitamin D plays an important role as a modulator of immunocompetence. Over the last few months, some studies have hypothesized the possible beneficial effect of vitamin D supplementation in patients with COVID-19 in order to improve the immune balance and prevent the hyperinflammatory cytokine storm. Some preliminary studies have already shown promising results with vitamin D supplementation in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Vitamin D should be administered daily until adequate levels are achieved due to vitamin D behaves as a negative acute phase reactant (APR). Despite the lack of evidence on specific doses of vitamin D to treat COVID-19 in older adults, authors consider it is necessary to standardize the use in clinical practice. These recommendations advice supplement vitamin D in a protocoled fashion based on expert opinions, level of evidence 5.

Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics

We read with interest the article by Tian Y et al reviewing the gastrointestinal aspects of the novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19). 1 As digestive endoscopists, we have adopted personal protective equipment in the endoscopy setting. Moreover, considering the importance of viral persistence in stools, we agree with the incorporation of rectal swab testing before discharging patients for identification of potential Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) positivity. Angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is the host receptor for SARS-CoV-2 entry into intestinal and alveolar cells. 2 Subsequent dysregulation of the renin-angiotensin system may lead to massive cytokine activation resulting in potentially fatal acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Covid-19 has a mortality rate that is currently higher in Northern latitudes, with Italy the highest (11.9%). Deaths and hospitalisations have to date occurred in 5.2% and 22% of patients in Northern latitudes, in 3.1% and 9.5% close to the Equator, in 0.7% and 8.7% in Southern latitudes, respectively (Table 1). Therefore, Covid-19 outbreaks and particularly mortality exhibit a decreasing North-South gradient.

Indian Journal of Unani Medicine, 2020

Objective: The aim of this review was to assess the roles of vitamin D in reducing the risk of respiratory tract infections, knowledge about the epidemiology of influenza and COVID-19, and how vitamin D supplementation might be a useful measure to reduce risk and also to outline the research progress and literature available of the epidemiology, pathogenesis, and clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients information regarding the ongoing pandemic.Unani medicines can play significant role as adjuvent therapy to control the adverse effect of COVID-19 and can also act asa a best Immunomodulator. Methods: Aliterature search was conducted using the databases PubMed, Medline, Scopus and Web of Science. We described overall possible association between COVID-19 and Vitamin D. We have searched by the names corona virus, covid-19 and vitamin D association with COVID-19. Result: Through several mechanisms, vitamin D can reduce the risk of infections by lowering viral rates of replication ...

Romanian Journal of Diabetes Nutrition and Metabolic Diseases, 2021

Cases of the COVID-19 pandemic have spread throughout the world and caused a high mortality rate. This virus is self-limiting, so the healing process is related to the immune system. One of the medical therapies given to hospitalized COVID-19 patients is vitamin D-based therapy to boost the immune system against the COVID-19 virus. This paper aimed to determine the effectiveness of vitamin D-based therapy to reduce the clinical impact on COVID-19 patients. The clinical impacts observed in this systematic review were the length of hospital stay, length in the ICU stay, cure rate, severity, mortality rate, and signs of inflammation. A literature search was carried out on the Scopus, Sciencedirect, and PUBMED databases. Search articles using the keyword vitamin D therapy in COVID-19 patients. The final result of the search found 6 articles that met the specified inclusion and exclusion criteria. Vitamin D in its active form (1,25(OH)2D3) can enhance chemotaxis, phagocytic response, and production of antimicrobials such as cathelicidin from macrophages as a series of innate immune responses. Administration of vitamin D-based therapy can also reduce the severity, decrease pro-inflammatory cytokines, and mortality in COVID-19 patients. The paper shows that vitamin D-based therapy can reduce the clinical impact in COVID-19 patients.

2023

Objective: This umbrella review synthesizes the existing literature on the role of vitamins for COVID-19 prevention and management. The objective is to elucidate potential preventive and therapeutic dimensions of these vitamins, highlight clinical applicability, and identify avenues for future research. Methods: A systematic search was conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar, with predefined key words for each vitamin combined with COVID-19-related terms. Narrative and systematic reviews were included, following Cochrane guidelines. AMSTAR scoring was used to assess systematic review quality, while SANRA guidelines were used to evaluate narrative reviews. Data extraction, synthesis, and reference overlap were conducted. Findings: Narrative reviews (n=14) revealed preclinical benefits of vitamins A, B group, C, D, and E (no research on vitamin K found) in COVID-19 management, with potential for immune modulation and anti-inflammatory responses. Of the systematic reviews (n=44), none included vitamins A or E. Some B vitamins exhibited potential, with significant associations between vitamin C supplementation and reduced COVID-19 severity. Many significant findings were also found between vitamin D deficiency and heightened COVID-19 risks, as well as promising effects of vitamin D supplementation. Vitamins A, B group, C, D, and E hold mechanistic rationale for combating COVID-19, as suggested by narrative reviews. In systematic reviews, vitamin D deficiency underscores its role in COVID-19 severity, while vitamin C and D supplementation show potential benefits as adjunct therapies. This umbrella review highlights the comprehensive research on the efficacy of vitamins in addressing COVID-19, with challenges that warrant further investigation.

VITAMIN D AND COVID-19: MODULATION OF THE IMMUNE RESPONSE (Atena Editora), 2022

Introduction: Due to the rapid spread of Sars-CoV-2 and COVID-19, at the beginning of 2020, the state of a pandemic by the coronavirus was installed and, since then, incessant research is being carried out in order to understand the pathophysiology of the disease and identify possible elements that predispose it. In this context, the association of vitamin D with the installation and progression of COVID-19 has been studied. The justification for the proposal of this work is due to the role of the vitamin in the modulation of the immune system, participating in the synthesis of catelecidin, a peptide that reduces viral replication; activation of defense cells; and the decrease of inflammatory cytokines. Objectives: To evaluate the plasma level of vitamin D, in the active form calcitriol, in individuals with COVID-19. Methods: Through a bibliographic survey in the "PubMed" database, with the keywords "COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, VITAMIN D, PREVENTION, CONTROL, THERAPEUTIC USE", 146 complete articles were collected and eight were selected that showed the plasma concentration of calcitriol in individuals with COVID-19. Results: Analysis of the eight articles resulted in the identification of plasma levels of calcitriol in 1485 individuals with COVID-19. Of these, 82% had Vitamin D values ​​below the minimum standard reference of 20 ng/mL. Conclusion: Through the descriptive literature review, it was concluded that the low plasma level of vitamin D can be a risk factor for infections by Sars-CoV-2 and an aggravating factor of the clinical picture of COVID-19.

International Journal of Innovative Research in Medical Science, 2021

The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 causes COVID-19 infection. Vitamins C and D have been investigated for their effects on COVID-19 including the severity of it’s symptoms and complications. These vitamins may provide some benefits against the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 as they modulate the immune system in addition to having anti-viral effects. This review will investigate the effects of vitamins C and D on COVID-19 infection to determine their benefits in the management of patients infected by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2.

2021

SARS-CoV-2 has caused a global pandemic with limited treatment options available. Some studies have proposed that vitamin D may be associated with Covid-19 infection outcomes. The aim of this literature review is to analyze the evidence currently available from Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) and quasi-experimental studies regarding the impact of vitamin D used as a preventative or adjunctive therapeutic agent on the disease severity and mortality rate of Covid-19 patients. A literature search was performed using PubMed, Science Direct, and ProQuest. Sources listed in the citations of systematic reviews and meta-analyses were also evaluated. Articles meeting the inclusion criteria were selected after title, abstract, and article content were reviewed. Five studies, including two RCTs, met inclusion criteria. One RCT did not find significant benefit with vitamin D3 supplementation. The remaining studies, including mostly elderly participants using various vitamin D supplementatio...