This year, many medical researchers have been studying ways to prevent and treat COVID-19. New research has been published at an unprecedented pace, often passing over the peer review process, an important step to ensure the research was done well. This week, we have some new peer-reviewed evidence that optimal Vitamin D levels reduce morbidity and mortality in COVID-19. This is a big deal.  

Integrative Pearl: First Randomized Controlled Trial of Vitamin D shows Vitamin D Reduces the Severity of COVID-19  

You can read the full paper here. Taking vitamin D almost eliminated the risk of ICU admission and may eliminate the risk of death.  

So what can you do with that information?  

I’d recommend getting your vitamin D levels checked. Ideal 25 hydroxyvitamin D (25D) levels are between 30ng/ml-60ng/ml. Vitamin deficiencies are common in North America. If your levels are adequate, keep it up. If you’re deficient, consider ways to increase your vitamin D: 

1. Get Sun Exposure If you’re in the northern hemisphere, take advantage of the longer, warmer days and get outside. 

2. Optimize Gut Health Vitamin absorption begins in the gut. Taking steps to strengthen your microbiome and decrease gut permeability means you’ll be more likely to metabolize vitamins naturally, through food and sunlight. A nutrient-dense, anti-inflammatory diet, along with good sleep and stress management, can help heal your gut lining, and help keep micronutrient levels within the healthy range.  

3. Supplement I usually recommend liposomal forms of vitamins initially for easy absorption. It’s also important to ensure adequate cofactors, such as vitamin K2, vitamin C, magnesium and calcium. I like the Quicksilver vitamin D3K2 combo. Each squirt under your tongue is 2500IU of vitamin D. Most deficient people will need 2-3 squirts per day. 

High vitamin cod liver oil is an excellent source of vitamin D and will also give you your daily dose of omegas. Arctic Cod Liver Oil by Nordic Naturals is my favorite.  

To buy supplements, you have lots of options. If you’re looking for high quality, physician-vetted supplements that have been stored properly, you can purchase supplements through Fullscript via our The Boost portal. 

 (If you purchase supplements through Amazon, for example, a third party seller could buy a huge amount of cod liver oil, store it without temperature control and then resell the damaged product to you.)

How much to supplement varies depending on various factors including current levels, gut health, skin color and ethnicity.