Consequences of Vitamin D deficiency in persons with a spinal cord injury
Vitamin D insufficiency is common in persons with spinal cord injuries and it has several negative consequences. This is due to the presence of many contributing factors including limited sun exposure and intake, use of medication and endocrine perturbations. And now, with the world struggling to deal with the many effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, a new study claims vitamin D deficiency may impact coronavirus mortality rates.
For those with SCI, one of the most important roles of vitamin D is to maintain skeletal calcium balance. Deficiency, or hypovitaminosis D, most commonly results from inadequate sunlight exposure and it impairs bone mineralization, leading to bone softening diseases such as osteoporosis and increase the risk of bone fractures. Muscle weakness is also a common symptom of vitamin D deficiency, further increasing the risk of fall and fracture in adults. Other problems include depression, light-headedness and periodontitis.
A research team led by Northwestern University analyzed data from hospitals and clinics across China, France, Germany, Italy, Iran, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States. Patients from countries with high COVID-19 mortality rates, such as Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom, had lower levels of vitamin D compared to patients in countries that were not as severely affected, according to the study. The researchers also found a strong correlation between vitamin D levels and cytokine storm, which is a hyperinflammatory condition caused by an overactive immune system.
We’d like to direct your attention to two articles on this important topic: