{"id":11462,"date":"2021-02-19T14:53:38","date_gmt":"2021-02-19T19:53:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vitoli.ca\/?p=11462"},"modified":"2025-04-24T11:47:52","modified_gmt":"2025-04-24T15:47:52","slug":"immunity-and-vitamin-d-the-pharmacists-point-of-view","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vitoli.ca\/en\/immunity-and-vitamin-d-the-pharmacists-point-of-view\/","title":{"rendered":"Immunity and Vitamin D; The Pharmacist\u2019s Point of View"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the past few days, I heard on the radio a comment from a prominent speaker (whose name I will not mention out of courtesy) often invited by several media to comment on the situation of the current pandemic, affirming that there was no scientific evidence indicating that Vitamin D could have a positive effect on Covid-19.<\/p>\n

Even though his role is not a key role, according to him, everything remains to be proven. This is theoretically not wrong, if we stick to the traditional “Evidence-based medicine”.<\/p>\n

However, I refer here to my article posted on the Vitoli blog on May 22nd<\/a>, where we were dealing with prevention, and Vitamin D was the first supplement discussed. In this article, we criticized the fact that we agree to use traditional drugs to experiment against Covid-19 (e.g.: Colchicine, chloroquine, etc.), but we deny the fact that, in the same way , certain so-called “natural” supplements could also add a string to our bow.<\/p>\n

It is therefore with some satisfaction that I learned today of an article published by Jean-Fran\u00e7ois Legault of the Canadian Press, relating a particular study, the PROTEC<\/em><\/strong> study, directed by doctors Francine Ducharme (SHU Sainte- Justine) and C\u00e9cile Tremblay (Center hospitalier de l’Universit\u00e9 de Montr\u00e9al). These two Montreal researchers believe that the addition of Vitamin D could be significant. I\u2019m glad to see that some serious stakeholders are ready to consider more \u201cnatural\u201d alternatives to combat the coronavirus that we all suffer from world-wide.<\/p>\n

Here I am quoting Dr. Ducharme: “There is a prevention effect of about 10 to 20% that has been shown already, so as to reduce the chances of a person developing a common cold. Could it work with Covid?”<\/p>\n

The results of the study, which will include 2,414 health care workers, who are at higher risk of coming into contact with the virus, should be available within 20 weeks.<\/p>\n

Our two Montreal researchers do not yet know what the conclusions of their study will be and they do not want people to rush the mega-doses of Vitamin D. I do not know about you, but considering the well-known Dietary Reference Intakes and the lack of sun exposure these days, I wouldn’t recommend mega-doses either, but a nice little extra of approximately 1000 IU a day wouldn’t hurt in the next few weeks.<\/p>\n

Also note that a meta-analysis of 11,321 people participating in 25 clinical studies found a significant effect of Vitamin D in reducing the risk of respiratory infections. Likewise, a retrospective study over a 15-year period concluded that people with Vitamin D deficiency have a significantly higher risk of dying from lung disease. It is interesting to emphasize that in addition to these benefits on the risks of infection or death from pulmonary diseases, Vitamin D has an important role to play in the control of inflammatory reactions (involved in severe cases of Covid -19).<\/p>\n

If these serious researchers have decided to dig deeper into the question, it is because it deserves our attention…!<\/p>\n

We will be awaiting their conclusions in the coming months…<\/p>\n

Andr\u00e9 Perreault, Pharmacist<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Other suggested readings:<\/strong><\/p>\n