Statins and Covid19

Currently there is much interest in the possible relationship between low Vitamin D serum levels and mortality figures from Covid19 infection. The hypothesis being that low Vit D levels are likely to be associated with those living largely indoors or with dark skins. Both conditions would prevent sunlight-mediated synthesis of Vit D.  Vit D is synthesised from cholesterol and this is important as will become clear later.

In other words, the conditions described above would predominate in the elderly and BAME communities which both are represented disproportionately in Covid19 related deaths..

Vit D can be obtained from dietary sources such as eggs, butter, oily fish, offal and red meats but consumption has been reducing nationally as people follow ‘healthy diets’ low in these foodstuffs.  Largely vegetarian diets expose the person to higher risk of Vit D deficiency as few vegetable  food-stuffs ( except UV-treated mushrooms) contain Vit D unless artificially supplemented.

Vit D is known to reduce cardio-vascular inflammation and is purported to improve immune response and so given all of the above it is not surprising that the medical world is following up any links with low Vitamin D levels and Corvid mortality.
The data will soon show whether there is a link with low Vit D  levels. It may then be added to other clearly risky medical conditions that contribute to Covid mortality, such as diabetes.

Sarcopena and cachexia ( muscle wastage ) are common  severe complications of serious Covid illness and are major contributors to mortality. Myelgias ( nerve pains ) are also common, though the latter do not seem to contribute to mortality. These traits described above have a familiarity about them.

The paragraph above reminded me of the adverse effects experienced by those who react poorly to statin drugs. It also reminded me that South Asians in particular are well known to be predisposed ( compared to Caucasian whites) to diabetes and cardio-vascular problems.  South Asians who react poorly to statins also are predisposed to early onset diabetes.

What is occurring to me is essentially a ‘perfect-storm’, a basket of disaster centred around the obsession with cholesterol and cardio-vascular disease. My hypothesis is that covid-related mortality outside of the frail and elderly population revolves around the cholesterol obsession.

I will guess that South Asians in particular will be disproportionately prescribed statins due to their CV risk profile, will have low dietary intakes of Vit D due to an avoidance of high cholesterol foods and will not have the exposure to sunlight generated Vit D.

Infection with Covid19 probably sets off a cascade of processes leading to apoptosis (cell-death) and hyper-inflammation in a system which has the ‘pump-primed’ so to speak. And yes, I do think that statin use, even for those who are not displaying obvious reactions to the drug will figure in the risk of Covid19 mortality.

If I can think this way then so can others, I do wonder if the search for the Vitamin D link will, or has already, uncovered the statin link. If so I am sure you will never hear about it. Or maybe the statin love affair is so embedded it will never be seen.


Post script October 2024:  The messianic prescribing of statins by GPs and prosylesing articles in the Press has all but disappeared.  A link between an uptick of shingles with statin use has been established.

I am due for my free Covid, Shingles and Flu jab next week. Conclusion: 'they' know and Humpty Dumpty has a lot of sellotaping to do.