Can taking a vitamin D supplement prevent infection with the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)?

Answer From Daniel C. DeSimone, M.D.

It is not clear if vitamin D supplements help prevent infection with the COVID-19 virus. You can help prevent this infection by following these steps:

  • Get vaccinated.
  • Stay away from people who are sick.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water.
  • Don't touch your face.
  • Disinfect surfaces you regularly touch.
  • Improve indoor airflow, also called ventilation, by opening windows or turning on exhaust fans.
  • Wear a face mask, especially if people around you have or are recovering from COVID-19. Masking can be key if you're at risk of getting serious COVID-19 illness. Risk factors include a weakened immune system, certain health conditions, pregnancy, and being age 65 or older.

Vitamin D, like other vitamins and minerals, helps the body work. And vitamin D is known to have a role in the body's defenses against germs. These defenses also are called the immune response.

Researchers are looking at the effect of vitamin D levels on infection with the COVID-19 virus. Some researchers study ways to prevent illness. Others test the effect of vitamin D given to people in the hospital with COVID-19.

There is no clear picture on how or if vitamin D should be used in prevention or treatment of COVID-19.

But researchers think that not having the amount of vitamin D your body needs might raise the risk of COVID-19. Not having enough vitamin D also may raise the overall risk of lung illnesses, also called respiratory illnesses. If your level of vitamin D is too low, you'll likely hear your healthcare professional call it a vitamin D deficiency.

On the other hand, having enough vitamin D may help people get the most out of their COVID-19 vaccinations.

If you're concerned about your vitamin D level, ask your healthcare professional about getting it checked. And if you have a vitamin D deficiency, talk with your healthcare professional about how to get your level up.

With

Daniel C. DeSimone, M.D.

From Mayo Clinic to your inbox

Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health. Click here for an email preview.

To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail.

July 06, 2024 See more Expert Answers

See also

  1. Antibiotics: Are you misusing them?
  2. Convalescent plasma therapy
  3. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
  4. COVID-19: How can I protect myself?
  5. Cough
  6. Herd immunity and respiratory illness
  7. COVID-19 and pets
  8. COVID-19 and your mental health
  9. COVID-19 antibody testing
  10. COVID-19, cold, allergies and the flu
  11. COVID-19 tests
  12. COVID-19 drugs: Are there any that work?
  13. COVID-19 in babies and children
  14. Coronavirus infection by race
  15. COVID-19 travel advice
  16. COVID-19 vaccine: Should I reschedule my mammogram?
  17. COVID-19 vaccines for kids: What you need to know
  18. COVID-19 vaccines
  19. COVID-19 variant
  20. COVID-19 vs. flu: Similarities and differences
  21. COVID-19: Who's at higher risk of serious symptoms?
  22. Debunking coronavirus myths
  23. Diarrhea
  24. Different COVID-19 vaccines
  25. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)
  26. Fever
  27. Fever: First aid
  28. Fever treatment: Quick guide to treating a fever
  29. Fight coronavirus (COVID-19) transmission at home
  30. Honey: An effective cough remedy?
  31. How do COVID-19 antibody tests differ from diagnostic tests?
  32. How to measure your respiratory rate
  33. How to take your pulse
  34. How to take your temperature
  35. How well do face masks protect against COVID-19?
  36. Is hydroxychloroquine a treatment for COVID-19?
  37. Long-term effects of COVID-19
  38. Loss of smell
  39. Mayo Clinic Minute: You're washing your hands all wrong
  40. Mayo Clinic Minute: How dirty are common surfaces?
  41. Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C)
  42. Nausea and vomiting
  43. Pregnancy and COVID-19
  44. Red eye
  45. Safe outdoor activities during the COVID-19 pandemic
  46. Safety tips for attending school during COVID-19
  47. Sex and COVID-19
  48. Shortness of breath
  49. Thermometers: Understand the options
  50. Treating COVID-19 at home
  51. Unusual symptoms of coronavirus
  52. Vaccine guidance from Mayo Clinic
  53. Watery eyes