Vitamin D is proposed as an effective solution of reducing the severity of COVID-19. Some available evidences have already reported beneficial effects of vitamin D supplementation. This new study examined the effects of vitamin D on the virus clearance.

The study was randomized and placebo-controlled. It has been conducted in asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic patients with vitamin D deficiency. They received 60000 IU cholecalciferol for 7 days (n = 16) or a placebo (n = 24). Vitamin D supplementation was continued in the active group for longer than 7 days for patients with still vitamin D deficiency.

Results showed that 10 patients (62.5%) from the vitamin D group and 5 (20.8%) from the placebo group became negative to SARS-CoV-2 RNA assessment. In addition, fibrinogen level was reduced by the vitamin D supplementation in comparison to placebo (p = 0.007).

Therefore, a vitamin D supplementation for patients SARS-CoV-2 positive with vitamin D deficiency may accelerate COVID-19 virus clearance, associated with a reduction in fibrinogen, preventing potentially inflammation and fibrosis.

Rastogi A, Bhansali A, Khare N, Suri V, Yaddanapudi N, Sachdeva N, Puri GD, Malhotra P. Short term, high-dose vitamin D supplementation for COVID-19 disease: a randomised, placebo-controlled, study (SHADE study). Postgrad Med J. 2020 Nov 12:postgradmedj-2020-139065.