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Originally Posted by 3PedalJake
Any thoughts on the theory that cytokine storm is the specific mechanism that is the lethal part of this virus? Does Vitamin D offers some level of protection?
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Yes, the cytokine storm is the beginning of the end but not because of what most think. COVID basically causes cellular redox issues. This means there are charged particles that aren't nullified. This leads to all kinds of cellular issues but the main one is acid neutralization. Bradykinin is a peptide that many think initiates the cytokine mediated inflammatory issues that COVID creates. That is not necessarily true. Bradykinin is actually released as bradykinin phosphate and the phosphate is used to buffer the intracellular pH when our other cellular buffering systems fail. The effects of bradykinin occur because the cell is trying to survive. if a cell can't regulate its pH, it will not survive. The cytokines end up getting the bad wrap but the body is just kicking the can down the road trying to survive.
The data on Vitamin D use as being a protective agent is conflicting. Having a deficit of Vitamin D certainly increases one's chances of catching COVID and having a more severe case. The reason the data is conflicting is because as we age, our body down regulates our immune system. Part of this down regulation is an epigenetic shift in our VDR genes. The VDR gene encodes for the VDR receptor and a polymorphism on this gene decreases our ability to utilize Vitamin D. This is another example of the body kicking the can down the road. So taking Vitamin D and being able to utilize it may be different things.