A recent study out of Indonesia suggests that a vitamin D deficiency may lead to increased susceptibility to COVID-19. Researchers in that country went through the medical records of those with COVID-19 to determine their levels of vitamin D.

According to the study’s abstract:

Results revealed that majority of the death cases were male and older and had pre-existing condition and below normal Vitamin D serum level…. When controlling for age, sex, and comorbidity, Vitamin D status is strongly associated with COVID-19 mortality outcome of cases.

Instapundit gives a further breakdown of the study provided by a Facebook friend:

“Just under half (49.7%) of cases had normal vitamin D status, and only 4% of them died. Just over a quarter (27%) had insufficient vitamin D status, and most of them (88%) died. Just under a quarter (23%) had deficient vitamin D status, and almost all of them (99%) died.”

Vitamin D levels tend to shrink in the winter months in the Northern Hemisphere because of less sunlight, as sunlight converts cholesterol to vitamin D. Not only is there less intense sunlight, but we are outside less because of the colder weather.

As the study noted, the majority of deaths involved older people with vitamin D deficiency. Is it possible the elderly spend less times outdoors?

This is not the only study to suggest a vitamin D deficiency may be a contributing factor to not only COVID-19 but also the flu, which surprise, surprise, hits hardest in the winter months: READ: Evidence that Vitamin D Supplementation Could Reduce Risk of Influenza and COVID-19 Infections and Deaths

Predictably, the California Governor expressed his outrage that people are going to the beach? READ: California governor admonishes weekend crowds who flocked to beaches