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  • The Atlantic

    Paging Dr. Hamblin: Does Vitamin D Help Fight COVID-19?

    Evidence is slowly mounting. Some researchers think that’s enough to recommend it.
    by James Hamblin Jun 03, 2020 5 minutes
    Source: Julian Montague

    Editor’s Note: Every Wednesday, James Hamblin takes questions from readers about health-related curiosities, concerns, and obsessions. Have one? Email him at paging.dr.hamblin@theatlantic.com.

    Dear Dr. Hamblin,

    I have read that a higher vitamin-D level correlates with better outcomes for other coronaviruses such as SARS and MERS. Could skin color be one of the reasons black Americans and Hispanic Americans are disproportionately affected by COVID-19? Should we be taking vitamin-D supplements? After consulting with my GP, I started taking 1,000 IU of vitamin D, since I’m only leaving the apartment once every two to three weeks. I’m Chinese, and I’ve experienced some aggression since the pandemic began. I’m more afraid of getting stabbed than getting sick. Being indoors all the time, I’m probably not getting enough vitamin D anyway.

    Adora Tsang
    Brampton, Ontario, Canada

    I think taking that small dose is reasonable to

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