Evidence from observational studies is accumulating, suggesting that the majority of deaths due to SARS-CoV-2 infections are statistically attributable to vitamin D insufficiency and could potentially be prevented by vitamin D supplementation [...]
It's quite a jump to go from vitamin D deficiency being a frequently encountered factor in mortality to saying that it "accounts" for 9/10ths of fatal cases. I doubt a silver bullet as simple as vitamin D has been hiding for his long, so the title is too grabby.
That said, there have been plenty of studies that have brought up this link, it's not just some pop sci trend. (Several of them are referenced in this OP study.)
There has been a recent study from Brazil that more or less found vitamin D supplements to be insignificant in treating severe cases that are late in prognosis. It's unfortunate that loading up on vitamin D while suffering a severe case of COVID likely wouldn't help much (if that as-of-yet unreviewed study is to be trusted), but it doesn't write off supplements for general risk minimization.
It's quite a jump to go from vitamin D deficiency being a frequently encountered factor in mortality to saying that it "accounts" for 9/10ths of fatal cases. I doubt a silver bullet as simple as vitamin D has been hiding for his long, so the title is too grabby.
That said, there have been plenty of studies that have brought up this link, it's not just some pop sci trend. (Several of them are referenced in this OP study.)
There has been a recent study from Brazil that more or less found vitamin D supplements to be insignificant in treating severe cases that are late in prognosis. It's unfortunate that loading up on vitamin D while suffering a severe case of COVID likely wouldn't help much (if that as-of-yet unreviewed study is to be trusted), but it doesn't write off supplements for general risk minimization.
How much vitamin D deficiency was found in people who survived?
vitamin D levels are important, but supplementing vitamin D doesn't necessarily raise levels