JANUARY 5, 2022 | UNLOCKED FOR THE PUBLIC
ABC News affiliate segment explores relationship between vitamin D, COVID-19
“When you lower blood levels of vitamin D, your risk of COVID-19 is higher,” said CRN’s Luke Huber, ND, in a recent interview with WXYZ, Detroit’s ABC News station. Dr. Huber discussed the relationship between vitamin D and COVID-19, and the role dietary supplements can play in supporting immune and overall health.
More on vitamin D: Patients with low vitamin D levels were 77% more likely to test positive for COVID-19, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Thirteen meta-analyses, generated from more than 100 clinical trials, have examined vitamin D and COVID-19, with multiple analyses revealing that higher blood levels of vitamin D appear to be correlated with lower incidence or severity of COVID-19.
“We have known for years that vitamin D plays an important role in immune health, and now there are multiple meta-analyses that appear to demonstrate the benefits of this nutrient in COVID-19,” Dr. Huber noted in Natural Products Insider.
Get more details about what the meta-analyses found here.
Consumer survey spotlights rise of vitamin D
Vitamin D usage in the U.S. rose 10 percentage points over the past year, according to CRN’s 2021 Consumer Survey on Dietary Supplements. Vitamin D has gained attention during the COVID-19 pandemic for its role in supporting immune health—and, more specifically, helping to combat respiratory infection.
All eyes on immune health: Vitamin D is among the list of ingredients that have seen a significant increase in usage over the last 12 months as research and news reports point to them as potentially helpful in boosting overall immunity:
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Vitamin D (52% vs. 42% in 2020)
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Vitamin C (40% vs. 35%)
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Zinc (22% vs. 15%)
More than supplements: Survey results indicate that 45% of all respondents have had their vitamin D levels checked by a healthcare provider at some point during the pandemic. This suggests that heightened awareness of the benefits of vitamin D is encouraging people to evaluate their own health.
Dive into vitamin D: Visit the CRN Foundation’s Vitamin D & Me! site to access leading research, expert video interviews, news, and educational content about vitamin D and COVID-19.
Go deeper: See more topline results from the 2021 Consumer Survey on Dietary Supplements here.
Go all in: Purchase the complete set of consumer survey data here. CRN members receive special pricing with code.