A high dose of vitamin D (80–100 ng/ml) taken orally daily was found to be safe along with reduction of inflammatory markers of COVID-19, a study published in Scientific Reports elucidated. This randomized prospective open-label study by Maheshwar Lakkireddy et al. aimed to examine the effect of Pulse D therapy in lowering the inflammatory markers associated with COVID-19.

The participants were randomized into VD and NVD groups. Covid-19 infected patients with vitamin D deficiency were assessed for inflammatory markers (neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio [N/L ratio], C reactive protein [CRP], lactate dehydrogenase [LDH], interleukin-6 [IL-6], ferritin) plus vitamin D (an immunomodulator) on the starting day and 9th or 11th day according to their respective body mass index (BMI).

The VD group was given Vitamin D 60,000 IUs per day for 8 or 10 days as per BMI (Pulse D therapy) along with the usual therapy. The NVD group was only given usual therapy. Out of the total 137 patients, 87 (VD:44, NVD:43) completed the study. Following the use of Pulse D therapy, Vitamin D level surged from 16 ± 6 to 89 ± 32 ng/ml in the VD group with a considerable decrease of all the inflammatory markers without any adverse effects. But, in the case of the NVD group, this decrease was insignificant. Amongst both groups, the difference in the decline of markers was highly significant.