WORLD JOURNAL OF ADVANCE
HEALTHCARE RESEARCH

Sunil J. Wimalawansa* MD, Ph.D, MBA, DSc

ABSTRACT

The elderly and those with underlying chronic pulmonary, cardiovascular, metabolic, and renal diseases are at a higher risk for experiencing COVID-19 infection and more prone to serious clinical complications, such as cytokine storm and acute respiratory distress syndrome, leading to death. In addition to pulmonary cells, COVID-19 also impairs endothelial cells and could initiate intravascular haemolysis and microvascular thrombosis, and consequent pulmonary microembolization, which leads to multi-organ failure and death. VitaminD adequacy however, can minimize the mentioned harmful outcomes. Sufficient exposure to ultraviolet B rays from sunlight and/or adequate doses of vitamin D supplements enhances the immune system. In vitro and in vivo data suggest that having adequate vitamin D, increased expression of anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-microbial related genes. These, suppress excessive inflammation and oxidative processes, and therefore, minimize the symptomatic COVID-19 infections, associated complications, and enable rapid recovery. Whereas, weaker immune systems are primarily responsible for complications and deaths from COVID-19. Administration of higher doses of vitamin D can rapidly boost the immunesystem. It is the most cost-effective way to keep the immune system at high alert and prevent complications and deaths from COVID-19. Therefore, one should proactively consider using a combination of safe sun exposure and oral vitamin Dsupplements to prevent and manage COVID-19. In addition, ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine could also use cost-effectively in those who had been expos-ed to a person with COVID-19, immediately after become PCR positive, and in early stage of the disease.

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