Can vitamin D lower the risk of COVID-19 for Black people?

There is yet another study expanding on various other studies that the effects of vitamin D levels at 30 ng/ml (nanograms per milliliter) may lower the risk of COVID-19 infection. But many researchers are finding that Black people who have levels of 30 to 40 ng/ml have a 2.64 times higher risk of testing positive for COVID-19 than people with levels of 40 ng/ml or greater. Black people tend to frequently suffer from vitamin D deficiency and have been disproportionately affected by the virus. Vitamin D deficiency left untreated is almost twice as likely to test positive for COVID-19 compared to patients with sufficient levels of vitamin D. Significant associations for vitamin D levels with COVID-19 risk were not found in white people. 

Researchers have been studying the link between vitamin D and respiratory illnesses for years. Last year in March 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggested that adequate vitamin D may potentially provide some modest protection for vulnerable populations. The CDC also argued that vitamin D reduces the risk of respiratory infection, and can limit the risk of other viruses like the flu.

Vitamin D can be obtained from supplements as well as through diet and sunlight exposure. Findings show that about 40% of people in the United States are vitamin D deficient, an estimated 39% of whom are Black. But, specifically across the Black community, more than 80% are vitamin D deficient.

There are a number of reasons and social factors for why Black people are more likely to be vitamin D deficient. One factor is skin tone. People with darker skin in general for the same amount of sunlight, produce less vitamin D. Blacks also have differences in how our vitamin D is managed. Other factors range from occupation, to diet, to access to healthcare as well as access to information about vitamin D. Comorbidities such as diabetes, hypertension, and obesity are also more common in Black people, which certainly affect vitamin D levels. Research finds that supplements may protect against severe COVID-19 and that patients with low vitamin D levels who are hospitalized for COVID-19 may have a lower risk of dying or requiring mechanical ventilation if they receive vitamin D supplementation of at least 1,000 units weekly.

While Blacks do not have as much access as our white counterparts to a nutritious diet, vitamin supplements are not the be-all, end-all of protection against the virus. Research also states that excessive consumption of supplements is associated with hypercalcemia as well as kidney failure. A diet of fresh produce, oily fish, red meat, fortified foods, egg yolks, and mushrooms are some foods rich in vitamin D. For vegetarians and vegans, there are fortified foods as well as soy milk. Also, continue social distancing, double masking, and vaccinate, if that is something that you're interested in- are some recommendations in order to not catch the virus.

Sources:

https://whyy.org/articles/a-new-study-shows-vitamin-d-can-lower-covid-19-risk-especially-for-black-people/