Abstract

A TALE OF TWO PANDEMICS: SUNSHINE VITAMIN (D) DEFICIENCY AND CURRENT PANDEMIC: COVID 19 RELATIONSHIP

S. Shruthi* and S. Bala Murali Mohan

ABSTRACT

Covid-19 (Corona virus disease) is an infectious disease caused by corona virus (SARS CoV 2) of coronaviridae family. It’s first outbreak was in Wuhan, China in 2019 and has spread all over the world with 1,56,73,511 positive cases and 6,36,848 deaths till today according to covid-19 tracker https://www.worldometers.info/ coronavirus/?utm_ campaign=homeAdvegas1? It was considered as global pandemic by WHO on March 11, 2020. Vitamin D also called the sunshine vitamin is synthesized by skin when exposed to sunlight by the action of UV B radiation. Its deficiency known as hypovitaminosis D is also a prevailing factor worldwide with 1 billion people effected in the world and 80% of adults, 96% elderly effected in India according to 2020 statistics. Though there is no proper evidence of vitamin D as a treatment option for this covid-19, more fatalities showed low vitamin D levels. So taking vitamin D rich foods like salmon, tuna fish, milk, liver, butter, mushrooms, eggs, cereals etc., vitamin D supplements and exposing to sunlight may reduce the number of vitamin D deficiency cases and also helps to fight against the infection as it is a harmone, nutrient, vitamin and also a immune and gene modulator.

Keywords: Covid-19, vitamin D, sunshine vitamin, hypovitaminosis D, fatalities, harmone, nutrient, vitamin, immune modulator, gene modulator.