Review the Research
Get summaries of key research on vitamin D and COVID-19
Effect of a single high dose of Vitamin D3 on cytokines, chemokines and growth factor in patients with moderate to severe COVID-19
Take Home Message
A single high-dose of 200,000 IU of vitamin D did not elicit meaningful changes in systemic inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, or growth factor among COVID-19 patients with already sufficient vitamin D levels.
Results
-
- The mean vitamin D levels significantly increase from baseline (21.1 ng/dl) to 44.6 ng/dl after a single high-dose of vitamin D (200,000 IU) compared to a placebo (20.2 to 19.8 ng/dl)
- There was no significant difference between the vitamin D3 group and the placebo group of serum levels of cytokines, chemokines, or growth factor.

Who
200 patients from the Clinical Hospital of the School of Medicine and Ibirapuera Field Hospital with moderate to severe COVID-19 (Age: 55.5 ± 14.3 years; BMI 32.2 ± 7.1; Male 54.5, Female 45.5%)
Things to Keep in Mind
It is possible that early vitamin D treatment could improve clinical status and cytokine-related inflammation in patients with less severe COVID-19.
Author’s Conclusions
“
- In summary, a single high-dose of 200 000 IU of vitamin D3 compared to placebo did not elicit meaningful changes in systemic inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and growth factor among hospitalized patients with COVID-19 who have already had a sufficient vitamin D. The findings do not support the use of high-dose vitamin D3 in the modulation of cytokine-related inflammation of moderate to severe COVID-19 in advanced symptoms
“
Study Design
- A post-hoc, ancillary and exploratory analysis of secondary outcomes from a multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial. 101 patients received a single oral dose of 200,000 IU of Vitamin D.
Reference
Fernandes AL, Murai IH, Reis BZ, Sales LP, Santos MD, Pinto AJ, Goessler KF, Duran CSC, Silva CBR, Franco AS, Macedo MB, Dalmolin HHH, Baggio J, Balbi GGM, Antonangelo L, Caparbo VF, Gualano B, Pereira RMR. Effect of a single high dose of Vitamin D3 on cytokines, chemokines and growth factor in patients with moderate to severe COVID-19. Am J Clin Nutr. 2022 Jan 10:nqab426. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/nqab426. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35020796; PMCID: PMC8807215.