About the prospects of using vitamin D and other micronutrients in the prevention and therapy of COVID-19
Vitamin D deficiency, which occurs in 80% of Russians, is associated with impaired functioning of the innate and acquired immunity and an increased risk of viral and bacterial diseases. In the setting of vitamin D deficiency, chronic inflammation develops in a patient of any age, which significantly reduces the body’s resistance to bacterial and viral diseases. Innate antiviral immune bolstering is the most important direction of the new COVID-19 prevention among the general population. Given the biological role of vitamin D in maintaining antiviral immunity and the significant prevalence of vitamin D deficiency, its compensation is a necessary component for the prevention of new COVID-19. This review presents the systematic analysis results of the texts of 20,600 publications on coronavirus infections, conducted by artificial intelligence methods based on the topological theory of recognition. There are two main directions for improving the efficacy of COVID-19 therapy and prevention: reducing the effects of the so-called cytokine storm syndrome and compensating of the patient’s chronic comorbid pathologies. Vitamin D is essential for maintaining the levels and activity of interferon-dependent proteins involved in antiviral defense, reducing the effects of the cytokine storm syndrome and compensating of comorbid pathologies.