Potential roles of vitamin D in the treatment of COVID-19 patient and improving maternal and child health during pandemic

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is supposed to cause Vitamin D deficiency in many people by a direct effect of home quarantine in the affected countries. Generally, vitamin D provides the human body with significant health benefits including bone development, specific gene regulation, and protection against different diseases. However, deficiency of the optimal amount of vitamin D inside the human body may result in susceptibility to multiple infectious diseases. Therefore, with vitamin D levels gravely decreased by reduced movement and activity, a number of possible negative outcomes are expected in COVID-19 patients, pregnant women, and children during this ongoing pandemic. Vitamin D has a direct inhibitory effect on post-infection through a number of mechanisms that promise to make vitamin D a future adjunctive therapy for COVID-19 treatment. Besides, clinical evidence also supports its role in preventing pregnancy complications and improving pregnancy outcomes. Consistent with the manifold role of vitamin D, an increasing number of studies suggest its role in improving the mental health of children who have been adversely affected throughout this pandemic. This review article discusses the potential roles of vitamin D on COVID-19 patients, pregnant women, and children focusing its scope to become a supplementary candidate for these vulnerable groups to combat the ongoing pandemic.