{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,21]],"date-time":"2026-05-21T00:34:36Z","timestamp":1779323676041,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":130,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2021,1,16]],"date-time":"2021-01-16T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1610755200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["IJERPH"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The foremost mortality-causing symptom associated with COVID-19 is acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). A significant correlation has been identified between the deficiency in vitamin D and the risk of developing ARDS. It has been suggested that if we can reduce or modify ARDS in COVID-19 patients, we may significantly reduce the severity of COVID-19 symptoms and associated mortality rates. The increased mortality of dark-skinned people, who have a reduced UV absorption capacity, may be consistent with diminished vitamin D status. The factors associated with COVID-19 mortality, such as old age, ethnicity, obesity, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes, are all found to be linked with vitamin D deficiency. Based on this review and as a precautionary measure, it is suggested that the adoption of appropriate and safe solar exposure and vitamin D enriched foods and supplements should be considered to reduce the possible severity of COVID-19 symptoms. Safe sun exposure is deemed beneficial globally, specifically in low and middle-income countries, as there is no cost involved. It is also noted that improved solar exposure and vitamin D levels can reduce the impact of other diseases as well, thus assisting in maintaining general human well-being.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph18020740","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2021,1,18]],"date-time":"2021-01-18T05:17:34Z","timestamp":1610947054000},"page":"740","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":17,"title":["Can Optimum Solar Radiation Exposure or Supplemented Vitamin D Intake Reduce the Severity of COVID-19 Symptoms?"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"18","author":[{"given":"Joji","family":"Abraham","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Engineering, Information Technology and Physical Sciences, Mount Helen Campus, Federation University Australia, Ballarat, VIC 3353, Australia"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Kim","family":"Dowling","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Engineering, Information Technology and Physical Sciences, Mount Helen Campus, Federation University Australia, Ballarat, VIC 3353, Australia"},{"name":"Department of Geology, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg 2006, South Africa"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5734-3421","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Singarayer","family":"Florentine","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Science, Psychology, and Sport, Centre for Environmental Management, Mount Helen Campus, Federation University Australia, Ballarat, VIC 3353, Australia"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2021,1,16]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1346","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cub.2020.03.022","article-title":"Probable pangolin origin of SARS-CoV-2 is associated with the COVID-19, outbreak","volume":"30","author":"Zhang","year":"2020","journal-title":"Curr. 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