Health

Apparently simple questions are often the hardest to answer. In the How about it? we try to find answers to such questions every week. This time: does vitamin D help against the coronavirus?

Research on corona

It seems as if all scientists in the world are engaged in research into the corona virus. New study results follow each other in quick succession, as a result of which we learn more and more about the virus every day.

Relationship between vitamin D and corona contamination

Although knowledge about the coronavirus and the disease COVID-19 is growing, there is also still much unexplored territory. For example, there is talk about the influence of vitamin D on the course of COVID-19. After all, vitamin D is good for the immune system, which may prevent the virus from actually causing symptoms of disease. At least, that’s what they say.

This is what science says

Whether this is really the case is still unclear. Scientific research has already been conducted into the relationship between vitamin D and a corona infection, but drawing a conclusion does not seem possible yet. Swedish research shows that vitamin D may counteract the symptoms of the disease, but the researchers also emphasize that much more field study is needed to prove that vitamin D really does something against COVID-19.

Importance of vitamin D.

Still a lot of loose ends, but that does not mean that maintaining the vitamin D level is very important. The body needs it to absorb calcium and keep bones strong, as well as for the muscles and immune system to function properly.

Create yourself

The body can produce this vitamin itself under the influence of sunlight, but it is also contained in certain nutrients. It occurs mainly in fatty fish such as salmon and eel, but it is also added to baking and roasting products, low-fat margarine and margarine. It is not in oil for frying, writes the Nutrition Center on its own site.

Vitamin D deficiency

Women over 50 and men over 70 are relatively often vitamin D deficient. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Center, the daily recommended amount is 10 micrograms and 20 micrograms for people over 70 years old. Those who get outside enough and eat enough vitamin D-containing products will probably not develop a deficiency, but those who do suffer from this can take a vitamin D tablet. In the video above, Professor of Nutrition and Health Jaap Seidell explains why taking such a vitamin D tablet can help. Be careful not to consume more than 100 micrograms of vitamin D per day as this can be harmful to the body.

Conclusion:

Research has been conducted into the relationship between vitamin D and the coronavirus, but no unequivocal conclusion has yet been reached. so it is not clear whether vitamin D helps to combat COVID 19 symptoms. It is clear that vitamin D is an important vitamin for the body and that it is good to maintain the vitamin D level.

(Source: PubMED, PMC, Nutrition Center, archive)

The course of a “Sars-CoV-2” infection varies from person to person: In some cases the course of the disease is practically symptom-free, while others have to be transferred to the intensive care unit.

There is always speculation about possible influencing factors such as age, gender or previous illnesses. Researchers have now come across a whole new question: What role does the infected person’s blood group play?

Coronavirus: does the blood group influence the course of the disease?

As a basis for the study, a German-Norwegian research team examined the data from 1980 test subjects. All people came from Corona crisis areas, such as Italy and Spain, were infected with “Sars-CoV-2” and were dependent on an oxygen supply due to the severe course of the disease.

As a comparison group, blood samples were taken from 2205 healthy people. According to the analysis, the scientists were able to determine that people with Blood group “A” is probably much more susceptible for a critical course of the disease than any other group. The risk of serious illness is said 50 percent higher than in people with blood group 0, according to the researchers. The blood groups “B” and “AB” would be somewhere in between.

The study, however, is only a “pre-print”, i.e. a pre-publication that has not yet been approved by independent experts. However, the SPD member of the Bundestag and health scientist Klar Lauterbach has already commented Twitter. There he described the study as “robust” with “astonishing results”.

The symptoms of corona disease are not always easy to spot. Here is a list of the most important signs.

Study confirms: blood group 0 is best protected

A research team from Denmark looked at the data of more than 473,000 people tested for Covid-19 with a control group of more than 2.2 million people. They took the data from the national health registers.

The scientists published their results in the medical specialist portal “American Society of Hematology (ASH)”: Among the people who tested positive for Covid-19 were an above-average number of people with blood types A, B and AB. It stood out that people with blood group 0 were significantly less affected by the virus.

Another independent study from Canada, also published on “ASH”, confirms the results from Denmark: Of the 95 patients examined from Vancouver, those with blood types A and AB had the most severe symptoms, whereas those with blood type 0 were significantly less affected .

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videoThe corona crisis brings a lot of fear, stress and worry, but some things are getting a lot easier. Coming up with an excuse to get out of an obligation has never been easier. More than a quarter of young people sometimes use corona for this.

Called in sick

For the immune system & bones

The number of infections with the coronavirus continues to rise worldwide, and as the season progresses, experts are also discussing the effects on diseases caused by other pathogens in winter. Then, for example, numerous cases of corona infections and the flu wave could collide. One question is currently dominant: is the amount of vaccine against influenza pathogens sufficient?

Germany could provide 26 million vaccine doses against influenza this season, according to Federal Health Minister Spahn. His ministry had ordered so many vaccine doses – this was more than ever before. Spahn defended himself against fears that there could be an undersupply: At the moment there are local and temporal delivery bottlenecks possible. The vaccine is not delivered in a day, but is gradually available. The vaccination doses would gradually be made available, whenever they were needed, added the CDU politician. It makes sense to get vaccinated in November or December.

Ordered too many vaccine doses?

According to Spahns, an average of four to six million vaccine doses have been destroyed in recent years – because they were not used. The Minister of Health appealed to those for whom the Standing Vaccination Commission recommends vaccination – i.e. so-called risk groups such as the chronically ill, the elderly, pregnant women, medical staff and nursing staff – to get vaccinated. This is not only important to prevent so-called superinfection for each individual – i.e. a combination of flu and coronavirus infections, for example – but also to protect the health system. The fewer people who contract the flu, the more capacities would be available for other patients, especially those with Covid-19, emphasized Spahn.

Not even enough for risk patients?

The background to Spahn’s statements was an appeal by paediatricians in Germany. The president of the federal association warned Fischbach, warned in the “Augsburger Allgemeine” against a shortage of flu vaccines. The amount of 26 million vaccine doses provided by the federal government is not even enough for all risk patients, says Fischbach. With this planned amount, it is assumed that the vaccination rate will remain low.
He is of the opinion that the amount of vaccine is only sufficient for around two thirds of the risk patients. He also advocated vaccinating children and adolescents in general. These would fuel waves of influenza by first falling ill and then infecting the others.

The World Health Organization even recommends regular influenza vaccination for all children from the age of six months. In the US, nearly 60 percent of children are currently vaccinated, and the number is rising. In the EU, the first countries are following the WHO recommendation to have all children also vaccinated against the flu, such as Great Britain and Finland.

The President of the German Medical Association, Reinhardt, called on teachers and daycare staff to get vaccinated against flu. The expected flu wave should not endanger the operation of schools and daycare centers, he told the Funke media group. Due to the applicable distance and hygiene rules, the flu wave could be more harmless than in previous years. Nevertheless, vaccination is important, also in view of the pandemic. The flu vaccine does not work against the coronavirus, but like any vaccination it is a training program for the immune system.

Scientists warn against clashes

A British study tried to describe how great the risk is when influenza viruses and corona pathogens meet. 37 scientists warn of this collision between a pandemic and a flu wave. In addition, the risk of infection is increased in winter because people spend more time in closed rooms. As a result, a second corona outbreak between autumn 2020 and early summer 2021 could be significantly worse than the first, emphasize the researchers. They assume a “worst-case scenario” for Great Britain with up to 120,000 deaths.

According to the World Health Organization, Europe must prepare for an increase in daily corona deaths in autumn. WHO Regional Director Kluge told the AFP news agency that higher mortality rates will be observed in October and November. He also warned against placing too high expectations on vaccines. It is still unclear whether a vaccine can help all population groups, emphasized Kluge.

Masks and distance – how high is the risk of infection anyway?

There are also voices who consider it likely that the flu epidemic will be weaker this year than in previous years. Due to the distance rules and the increased hygiene behavior, the general risk of infection is currently lower than usual, for example, said the federal chairman of the German Association of General Practitioners, Ulrich Weigeldt, of the Funke media group. He advocates maintaining the rules of conduct that have now been rehearsed even after the end of the pandemic: “Above all, frequent and thorough hand washing and ventilation.”

A look at other areas of the world makes it possible to make an initial possible assessment of the danger situation: Infections with flu viruses have decreased significantly in countries in the southern hemisphere due to the corona measures. This is shown by data that the US health authority CDC has evaluated. Accordingly, a corresponding influenza infection between April and July was only detected in 51 of more than 83,000 samples from Australia, Chile and South Africa. In the previous years there had been an average of 24,000 positive results from 178,000 samples in these countries.

The CDC does not consider a connection with the measures to contain corona, such as keeping your distance or masks to be proven – but plausible. The findings would indicate that appropriate measures could be a useful addition to the flu vaccination to protect particularly risk groups, it says. The CDC suspects that the flu wave in the northern hemisphere could be significantly smaller this winter if the measures to contain the coronavirus are continued.

Coronavirus: immune to seasonal fluctuations?

Because of the low number of flu cases in the spring, the RKI ended the influenza season two months earlier than usual. This normally lasts from the beginning of October to mid-May. The virologist at the University of Münster, Stephan Ludwig, said on Deutschlandfunk that the flu-like infections in Germany during the lockdown in spring had suddenly decreased, but the SARS-CoV-2 virus had “held up well”, even on warm days inside. Corona does not show this kind of seasonality that you can see with flu, for example, he emphasized: “Conversely, this could mean that it is not as bad in winter or autumn, when it gets cooler, as it does with, for example a flu epidemic can happen. “

RKI on the risk of flu viruses

The President of the Robert Koch Institute, Wieler, pointed out that in some regions of the world influenza monitoring is being neglected for reasons of cost. But it is particularly important for vaccine development that the investigations continue. The flu vaccine is updated every year to reflect the changing strains of the virus.

According to estimates by the Robert Koch Institute, five to 20 percent of the population is infected during a flu epidemic. The number of deaths varies depending on the severity of the outbreak. According to the RKI, a particularly large number of people died from the flu in the 2017/2018 season, namely around 25,000. Nevertheless, only about a third of the German population is vaccinated. The goal of the WHO and the EU is 75 percent.

Vaccinations also possible in pharmacies

In order to get closer to this level of vaccination coverage, those with statutory health insurance in parts of North Rhine-Westphalia can in principle also get vaccinated against influenza in pharmacies. The model project is unique in Germany and will initially run for three years. Vaccinations in the doctor’s offices are still possible, it said. The peak of the flu wave is usually in January / February.

Every second German wants to be vaccinated against the flu

In fact, according to a survey, around every second German wants to be vaccinated against flu this year. In the survey by the Civey Institute for the “Augsburger Allgemeine”, 51.5 percent of the 5,002 respondents planned to be vaccinated this year as early as August. On the other hand, 41.3 percent rejected a vaccination. Older people in particular expressed willingness to be vaccinated against influenza. In a similar survey from the previous year, only around 30 percent of those questioned stated that they wanted to be vaccinated.

The Federal Association of German Pharmacists’ Associations gives other numbers and refers to a representative survey: According to this, almost every second adult in this country who belongs to a risk group still does not want to be vaccinated against flu.

(Stand: 14.10.2020)

Further articles on the coronavirus

We have created a news blog. In view of the large amount of information, this provides an overview of the most important current developments.

Numbers and dates

+ Current developments: Figures on the coronavirus in Germany (as of October 27)
+ Situation in Germany: What does the rapid increase in new infections and the incidence value mean? (Status: 10/22)
+ Classification: What numbers do we mention about the coronavirus and why (as of August 22)

Test and protection

+ Tests for the coronavirus: when, where and how? (As of: 28.09.)
+ Corona infection: how reliable are the tests? (Status: 08.10)
+ Treatment: This is how far vaccine research against the coronavirus is (as of October 20)
+ Remdesivir and Co: how far is the search for drugs against Covid-19? (As of October 16)
+ Infection: What we know so far about reinfections and immunity against the coronavirus (as of 10.10.)
+ Hospitals: What the increase in corona infections means for them (as of October 15)

Contagion and transmission

+ Transfer: What role do aerosols play (as of 10.10.)
+ Surfaces: How long the coronavirus lasts there (as of October 12)
+ Face masks: What you should know about protective masks (as of: 24.09.)
+ Autumn: What to do when corona and flu wave collide (as of October 14th)
+ Excess mortality: How deadly is the coronavirus really? (Status: 10.10.)
+ “Superspreader events”: When demos, celebrations and events become a problem (as of October 13th)

Vacation and free time

+ Customs: What is left of the carnival in this session (as of 19.09)
+ Clubs: What about the opening of discos (as of 03.10.)
+ Travel warning: The current list of risk areas (as of October 22)
+ Overview: the bans on accommodation in the federal states (as of October 17)
+ Travel returnees and party goers: Those who are currently driving the German infection numbers up (as of 10.10.)

The DLF news can also be found on Twitter at: @DLFNews.

Recently, there were several reports about individual people who were infected with the new corona virus for the second time. What does this say about immunity and the vaccine search?

What is known about reinfections with the coronavirus?

Since the new coronavirus has been circulating around the world, it has been puzzled as to whether and when someone can get Covid-19 again after a corona infection – an important question also with regard to the requirements for vaccines. As early as spring, some cases became known in which the coronavirus could be detected again a few weeks later after a negative test. In these cases, researchers assume different scenarios: the virus could have stayed in the body and the disease flared up again later – or the tests were misleading because dead viral material could have been detected.

Now there have been reports from some patients – for example in Belgium, the Netherlands, the USA, Ecuador and Hong Kong – who have contracted the virus again weeks to months after being infected with Sars-CoV-2. These are definitely reinfections: As the virologist and advisor to the Dutch government, Marion Koopmans, announced, the genetic code of the Dutch patient – a kind of fingerprint of the virus – differs significantly from the first in the second infection. That speaks against a flare-up of the first infection, she said on Dutch radio.

Genetic fingerprint changes

A different genetic fingerprint was also found in the newly ill patient from Belgium. She was sick again three months after the first infection. Shortly before, the University of Hong Kong reported on a man who was infected again after four and a half months – different virus sequences were found in him than in the initial infection. It was the same with a man in Nevada and one Ecuadorianer, as reported by researchers from both countries.

How does a reinfection work?

So far there are no research results on this, as only these three cases of reinfection have been reliably documented. In the case of the Hong Kong man, it is known that, according to the university, he did not show any symptoms with the second infection. In the case of the patient in Belgium, the virologist Marc Van Ranst speaks of mild symptoms. In the Netherlands it is about an elderly patient with a weak immune system, details of the course of the disease are not known. It could be that the course is at least easier with a second infection – or that you are no longer contagious, suspects Carsten Watzl, Secretary General of the German Society for Immunology.

The individual cases from the USA and Ecuador currently speak against this. The 25-year-old American had initially tested positive for Sars-CoV-2 in mid-April after milder cold symptoms and diarrhea. At the end of May he was tested positive again – this time with fever, headache and cough, and he also had to be ventilated from time to time. The man from Ecuador had only mild symptoms when he was infected for the first time in May, and in August the disease was moderately severe.

How long are you immune after a corona infection?

This question is still largely unanswered. The Dlf program “Research News” reports on new studies by Harvard Medical School and the University of Toronto that focus on antibodies against the corona virus. More than 300 infected people were examined for the studies. The result: antibodies were detectable in the blood and saliva of most of the infected. The researchers found the greatest amount of antibodies in the patients examined two to four weeks after infection. The amount of antibodies then decreases.

After three months, antibodies were still present in almost all infected people, and in some even after six months, albeit in lower concentrations.
However, it is difficult to derive an answer to the question of whether and how long the immune protection persists. In addition to the antibodies, other factors such as the general strength of the immune system, which varies from person to person, play an important role in protecting against the pathogen. It is still possible that the duration of immunity differs from person to person, as the Robert Koch Institute says.

No antibodies in proven infected people

The answer after natural immune protection is made more difficult by the fact that in some people who have been proven to be infected, no antibodies at all are found, as a study by the Jena University Hospital shows. In the former Corona quarantine Neustadt am Rennsteig, no antibodies against the pathogen could be detected in around half of the infected. A study by the Lübeck health department had also come to the conclusion that only 70 percent of those infected had formed antibodies, while 30 percent did not.

What role do T helper cells play in defense?

But it’s not just antibodies that fight an infection. So-called T helper cells also play an important role, as they can remember over the years which pathogens the body has successfully fought. However, tests on these immune cells are significantly more complex than antibody tests, as Gerard Krause from the Helmholtz Center for Infection Research said on Deutschlandfunk.

In a small study, researchers at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm tested the blood samples of 2,000 people in the Swedish capital for evidence of T-cell immunity to Sars-Cov-2. They saw that some people did not have antibodies, but still had T-cell immunity – especially people who had only very mild or hardly detectable symptoms. The actual percentage of people who have already had a corona infection and are probably immune for the time being could therefore be higher than antibody studies suggest. This was also recently communicated in relevant studies.

What does this mean for vaccine development?

According to our research department, when an immune reaction is mentioned in vaccination studies, it refers to antibody production. It is unclear from what amount an immunity is achieved and how long it lasts. In addition, so far it is only clear for the vaccine candidate from the University of Oxford that the vaccine also produces suitable T memory cells – but that would be quite relevant for long-term immunity. The DLF research team has put together information on the status of vaccine research here.

What are the benefits of plasma treatment with antibodies?

In the USA, the treatment of Covid-19 sufferers with plasma from patients who have already recovered has now been permitted with an emergency permit. In the blood plasma there are antibodies that are supposed to help the sick – a procedure that has been practiced for over a century. So far there have been indications with regard to Covid-19 that seriously ill patients survive somewhat more often when plasma with antibodies is administered than without. The results are not clear, because the patients mostly received other drugs in addition to the plasma. An official approval of the treatment is therefore still pending in the USA. Critics accuse US President Trump of having initiated the emergency approval mainly because of the presidential election campaign.

DLF science correspondent Volkart Wildermuth has compiled further information on immunity to the new coronavirus here.

(Stand: 10.10.2020)

Further articles on the coronavirus

We have created a news blog. In view of the large amount of information, this provides an overview of the most important current developments.

Numbers and dates

+ Current developments: Figures on the coronavirus in Germany (as of October 27)
+ Situation in Germany: What does the rapid increase in new infections and the incidence value mean? (Status: 10/22)
+ Classification: What numbers do we mention about the coronavirus and why (as of August 22)

Test and protection

+ Tests for the coronavirus: when, where and how? (As of: 28.09.)
+ Corona infection: how reliable are the tests? (Status: 08.10)
+ Treatment: This is how far vaccine research against the coronavirus is (as of October 20)
+ Remdesivir and Co: how far is the search for drugs against Covid-19? (As of October 16)
+ Infection: What we know so far about reinfections and immunity against the coronavirus (as of 10.10.)
+ Hospitals: What the increase in corona infections means for them (as of October 15)

Contagion and transmission

+ Transfer: What role do aerosols play (as of 10.10.)
+ Surfaces: How long the coronavirus lasts there (as of October 12)
+ Face masks: What you should know about protective masks (as of: 24.09.)
+ Autumn: What to do when corona and flu wave collide (as of October 14th)
+ Excess mortality: How deadly is the coronavirus really? (Status: 10.10.)
+ “Superspreader events”: When demos, celebrations and events become a problem (as of October 13th)

Vacation and free time

+ Customs: What is left of the carnival in this session (as of 19.09)
+ Clubs: What about the opening of discos (as of 03.10.)
+ Travel warning: The current list of risk areas (as of October 22)
+ Overview: the bans on accommodation in the federal states (as of October 17)
+ Travel returnees and party goers: Those who are currently driving the German infection numbers up (as of 10.10.)

The DLF news can also be found on Twitter at: @DLFNews.

Hamm – The news is currently spreading like wildfire in the media: At the Drugstore chain dm customers can now have one Corona antibody test of the brand cerascreen to buy. The test is supposed to be a past infection prove with the coronavirus, the result comes out loud dm from a laboratory. But first it should be emphasized: The test shows no acute infection to. He should only tell whether the tested antibody against SARS-CoV-2 has in the blood.

Corona antibody test at dm: This is how the test kit for at home works

The Antibody test there is also only online at dm to buy in the Branches it is not available. It is a so-called “send-in kit” that contains everything you need to take a blood sample at home, it says in the product description on the homepage of dm. Cost: 59.95 euros plus shipping costs.

And this is how it should work: Anyone who has ever had their blood sugar measured will know the procedure for taking blood. With a Lanzette should you prick your fingertip that blood sample comes in a tube. Instructions for use explain the process in more detail, it says at dm. Then you have to go for the Corona-Test on the page or in the app of cerascreen to register. Then a “short questionnaire” about previous illnesses and complaints should be filled out.

Corona antibody test at dm: blood sample is sent to a specialist laboratory

The blood sample will then be mailed to one of the medical partner laboratories from cerascreen cleverly. According to its own information, the company works “with accredited, specialist medical laboratories”. There the sample will then be “specific IgG class antibodies against the virus SARS-CoV-2“Investigated.

The tested person receives the result via the app or the user account on the homepage. This is supposed to 12 to 48 hours after receipt of the sample take in the laboratory. “The report tells you whether the test turned out positive or negative, i.e. whether antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 were found in your sample,” says the product description.

Loud cerascreen the test has a high reliability and is comparable to the Sampling at the doctor. In addition, there is a high level of informative value by measuring the long-lived IgG antibody.

Corona antibody test at dm: immunity after infection not guaranteed

But why a past infection with the Coronavirus get tested? cerascreen speaks of “more certainty as to whether your body has developed antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 and whether it was infected with the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2)”. In addition, the test would avoid a possible risk of infection from a visit to the doctor or medical staff.

With viruses like SARS-CoV-2 can the formation and retention of Antibodies to immunity to lead. That was the great hope at the beginning of the corona pandemic: Anyone who was infected once is immune to the virus. The immunity after infection is unfortunately not fully proven. Research is still ongoing to find out how long the antibodies stay in the blood of an infected person. Reports are contradicting, there are cases of multiple infections, experts do not agree, reports Ruhr24.de. *

Therefore, the product description of the Corona antibody tests from cerascreen contain a warning: “Currently, a positive antibody test not yet immunity to the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus can be concluded. Regardless of the test result, precautionary measures such as AHA (keep your distance, pay attention to hygiene, wear an everyday mask) should be strictly observed. “

So who one with such an antibody test positive result should not be sure that he is immune to the coronavirus. And if you get a negative result, you can still get acute with the Coronavirus be infected.

Corona antibody test at dm: This is the manufacturer cerascreen

cerascreen is a certified manufacturer of medical products and “offers health diagnostics, advice and care from a single source,” says the website. The company also offers one online Coronavirus PCR-Test via throat swab. Loud Daily mirror warned the Professional Association of German Laboratory Doctors (BDL) but already at the end of September before such Corona self-tests. They are “not a useful addition to the national test strategy” and fighting the pandemic must remain the responsibility of doctors.

The corona numbers continue to rise in North Rhine-Westphalia as well. Is there a threat of a lockdown in North Rhine-Westphalia? Christian Drosten and Karl Lauterbach have an idea. With the many newly infected people, a number of contact persons currently have to be in quarantine at home. The rules and guidelines are not always completely transparent.

List of rubric lists: © dm-drogerie markt / ARTIS-Uli Deck / obs / picture alliance