Short communication
Vitamin D receptor stimulation to reduce acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in patients with coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 infections: Revised Ms SBMB 2020_166

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsbmb.2020.105719 Get rights and content

Highlights

  • Corona virus infections can cause Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), mediated by a variety of mechanisms, including cytokine storm, dysregulation of the renin-angiotensin system, neutrophil activation, and the coagulation cascade.

  • Vitamin D receptor activation act on many cellular and biochemical mechanisms responsible for ARDS. Most data suggest that VDR activation may taper down ARDS.

  • Vitamin D supplementation, either as vitamin D or calcifediol (25OHD), is being tested in several RCTs as to demonstrate its potential effects on the course of corona virus infections.

  • A pilot study in Cordoba suggested that calcifediol treatment may reduce the need for ICU treatment of patients hospitalized for COVID19 infections.

Abstract

Coronavirus infection is a serious health problem awaiting an effective vaccine and/or antiviral treatment. The major complication of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the Acute Respiratory Distress syndrome (ARDS), is due to a variety of mechanisms including cytokine storm, dysregulation of the renin-angiotensin system, neutrophil activation and increased (micro)coagulation. Based on many preclinical studies and observational data in humans, ARDS may be aggravated by vitamin D deficiency and tapered down by activation of the vitamin D receptor. Several randomized clinical trials using either oral vitamin D or oral Calcifediol (25OHD) are ongoing. Based on a pilot study, oral calcifediol may be the most promising approach. These studies are expected to provide guidelines within a few months.

Keywords

Vitamin D, vitamin D3 or cholecalciferol
Calcifediol or 25-hydroxyvitamin D3
1α, 25(OH)2D or 1α, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D or calcitriol
Corona virus
SARS-CoV-2
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
Cytokine storm
Lung diseases
Renin-angiotensin system
Hypercoagulability

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