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Published on: Apr 17, 2020
4 minute read
By: Dr Rajan Choudhary

Vitamin D In Reducing The Risk Of COVID 19

Why Vitamin D is the only supplement we will recommend for you.

Most of our blogs have looked at theories posted on social media, and shown how they are usually not true, or have no factual basis behind them. But here we will show some evidence that supports something truly interesting, especially during the time of this pandemic.

For a number of years research has shown a possible link between vitamin D and illnesses, specifically respiratory infections. In our previous blogs we have shown that vitamin supplementation is unnecessary, except for vitamin D. Here we will show why supplementation may be in your best interest for reducing the risk of COVID.

Now I’ll be honest. Vitamin D and immunity was not something we were taught at medical school, or in medical practice. The fact that such a large amount of research exists on this topic is certainly interesting, and whilst researching this topic I have certainly learnt a lot myself, enough to change my own medical practice. And it is because of the high quality of evidence present that I feel confident in supporting the claims below.

SUMMARY

Many people are low in Vitamin D due to various risk factors (see our blog on vitamin D)
Vitamin D appears to have a role in modulating immune function
Low Vitamin D levels appear to increase the severity of autoimmune disorders
Low Vitamin D levels appear to increase the risk of getting respiratory infections
Vitamin D supplementation appears to reduce the risk of getting respiratory infections
Those who are at risk of having low vitamin D should take low dose supplementations.

If you want the good stuff, skip to the section on SUPPLEMENTATION

IMMUNE FUNCTIONS

As we’ve discussed, vitamin D is key in maintaining the right balance of calcium, ensuring the right amount is taken up from the food we eat, integrated into our bones, and removed in our urine if not required. We know that there are some people who are at risk of vitamin D deficiency, and this is more common in countries closer to the poles and with cloudy weather.

But there also appears to be a role for vitamin D in modulating the immune system. We have found many more cells in our body other than bone, intestine and kidney that possess the vitamin D receptor. These include immune cells, and one role may be to promote proliferation of these cells as well as promote their protective immunity.

AUTOIMMUNE

Due to its role in immune function, studies have been performed to see whether there is a link between autoimmune diseases and vitamin D. Common autoimmune disorders (and the organs the affect) include multiple sclerosis (nerves), rheumatoid arthritis (joints), diabetes mellitus (pancreas), inflammatory bowel disease (bowels) and systemic lupus erythematous (the entire body). All of these diseases lead to loss in function of an organ or system as the immune system recognises the organ as an “invader” and begins to destroy it.

One study looked at 161 patients with early forms of autoimmune diseases over 2 years. Out of them, 35 went on to develop full blown autoimmune disorders (like rheumatoid and lupus). Whilst the two groups of patients were mostly similar, vitamin D was noticeably lower in the group that progressed to disease. But this is one study, with a small number of patients.

Other studies have looked at vitamin D levels in patients across the globe, and the majority of them have shown there to be a correlation between low vitamin D or severe deficiency, and the severity of autoimmune disorder they have. We will not go into them in detail because this is beyond the scope of this blog, but it certainly is interesting and supports this new role for vitamin D.

RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS

We have unknowingly tried to use Vitamin D to treat infections prior to the advent of antibiotics. A common treatment for tuberculosis was to send patients to sanatoriums, where treatments included exposure to sunlight, and provision of cod liver oil, a rich source of vitamin D.

Large population studies done in the 1980s and 1990s involving 19,000 people showed that those with low vitamin D levels were more likely to self report recent upper respiratory tract infections than those with normal levels. This was true even if age, gender, season and race were accounted for. Similar studies have shown similar results when looking at rates of influenza, bacterial vaginosis and HIV.

Normally we are very skeptical with such studies, and look for weaknesses in their methodology and conclusions. After all, we could just cherry pick the studies that show a benefit. Furthermore, just because there is a trend with vitamin D levels and infection, this does not imply a direct link. More evidence is required. However, the fact 19,000 people were surveyed provides this study with good statistical power, and lends it validity. But lets look for more.

SUPPLEMENTATION

Vitamin D supplementation to prevent acute respiratory tract infections: systematic review and meta-analysis of individual participant data – Martineau 2017, British Medical Journal

A systematic review and meta analysis is the highest level of evidence in the realm of medical research. It is the absolute pinnacle of thorough research, looking and comparing other studies with very close scrutiny to see whether we have conducted enough research worldwide to support a theory. In this case this systematic review was published in the British Medical Journal, a highly reputable source that again scrutinises any study submitted thoroughly before accepting it for publication. In my eyes, this is some of the best evidence we will have on this topic. And it is a far sight better than any WhatsApp forwards.

So what does this say?

Vitamin D supplementation was safe and it protected against acute respiratory tract infection overall. Patients who were very vitamin D deficient and those not receiving bolus doses experienced the most benefit.

I don’t think I could have summarised it better myself. If you wish to read the study yourself you can use this link: https://www.bmj.com/content/356/bmj.i6583 Vitamin D supplementation to prevent acute respiratory tract infections

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ME?

If you are someone who may be at risk of vitamin D deficiency, then low dose supplements (NOT treatment dose) may be beneficial in reducing the risk of getting a respiratory infection. Since COVID is caused by a respiratory virus, we can extrapolate that Vitamin D supplementations may reduce your risk of getting COVID. This is not a cure, and it is not a guaranteed protection. If you already have a balanced diet and are not low in Vit D, it may be less beneficial.

Dr Rajan Choudhary, UK, Chief Product Officer, Second Medic Inc

www.secondmedic.com

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Digital Healthcare Automation India: Enabling Smart Workflows, Faster Care, and a Modern Clinical Ecosystem

Digital healthcare automation is redefining how India delivers medical services, manages clinical operations, and coordinates patient journeys. As hospitals, clinics, and digital health platforms move toward technology-driven processes, automation has become essential for ensuring efficiency, reducing manual work, minimizing delays, and improving care accuracy. In a healthcare system where patient volumes are high and specialist availability is uneven, automation empowers organizations to deliver faster, smarter, and more consistent care.

India’s healthcare automation growth aligns with national initiatives like ABDM (Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission), growing telemedicine adoption, rising digital literacy, and the increased use of AI-based medical tools. SecondMedic integrates automation into every stage of digital care-appointments, reporting, monitoring, follow-ups, and preventive health-allowing users and clinicians to experience a seamless, intelligent healthcare ecosystem.

Digital healthcare automation India is not simply about digitizing manual tasks; it is about augmenting healthcare with intelligent workflows that respond to real-time needs. By reducing repetitive workloads, automation allows clinicians to focus on what matters most: patient care.

Why Automation Matters in Indian Healthcare

India faces significant challenges: overloaded outpatient departments, resource shortages, manual data entry errors, delayed reports, and administrative inefficiencies. Automation addresses these issues by introducing structured, rule-based processes supported by AI and digital tools.

Key systemic challenges automation helps solve:

High patient-to-doctor ratios
Slow movement of information across departments
Inconsistent follow-up and monitoring
Manual errors in documentation and reporting
Unpredictable appointment flow
Inadequate time for patient–doctor interaction

Digital automation supports a more organized, reliable, and high-performance healthcare environment.

What Is Digital Healthcare Automation?

Digital healthcare automation refers to the use of AI, software systems, connected devices, and workflow engines to automate medical and administrative procedures. These tools reduce manual intervention wherever possible and ensure accuracy, repeatability, and continuity.

Core areas of automation include:

Appointment management and scheduling
Electronic medical record updates
Auto-generation of diagnostic summaries
Automated clinical reminders
Medication and health-plan notifications
Remote monitoring and alert systems
Digital report formatting
Workflow optimization for hospital operations

SecondMedic incorporates automation across its telemedicine, diagnostics, monitoring, and preventive-care systems.

Automated Appointment Scheduling and Coordination

Appointment automation is one of the most practical innovations in India’s digital health landscape. Without automation, patients often encounter long queues, missed follow-ups, and scheduling conflicts.

Automated scheduling helps by:

Matching patients to the right doctor
Reducing wait times
Preventing double bookings
Prioritizing urgent cases
Coordinating virtual and in-person consults
Helping doctors manage daily workloads efficiently

SecondMedic’s automated scheduling engine analyzes doctor availability, user urgency, and specialty requirements to optimize appointment flow.

Automation in Diagnostics and Reporting

Medical diagnostics often involve multiple steps that traditionally require human intervention-uploading reports, comparing past results, formatting summaries, highlighting abnormalities, and generating clear interpretations.

Automation enhances diagnostic workflows by:

Auto-organizing digital medical reports
Highlighting abnormal ranges
Identifying missing test values
Summarizing patient history for doctors
Formatting structured reports instantly
Automating comparisons with past results

For AI-based imaging and lab analytics, automation helps radiologists and clinicians detect patterns faster and reduce minor reporting inconsistencies.

Remote Monitoring and Automated Alerts

Remote patient monitoring has grown rapidly in India, especially for chronic diseases. Wearable devices and home-health tools generate continuous data streams. Automation helps turn these raw inputs into actionable insights.

Monitoring automation includes:

Auto-detection of abnormal vitals
Alerts for risky trends
Medication reminders
Follow-up triggers
Predictive alerts using AI
Aggregated health reports for doctors

For chronic care, this ensures timely intervention and reduces emergency visits.

Enhancing Hospital and Clinic Workflows

Healthcare automation in clinical facilities improves operational efficiency and reduces administrative bottlenecks. Hospitals benefit significantly from automated workflows that ensure consistency and speed.

Applications include:

Patient flow management
Automated admission and discharge processes
Digital billing and inventory management
Lab and pharmacy integration
Nursing task automation
Centralized communication dashboards

These improvements reduce patient wait times and improve overall care delivery.

Improving Patient Engagement Through Automation

Automation supports patients by making healthcare more accessible and predictable. Many individuals struggle to remember follow-ups or understand complex medical guidance. Automated systems simplify this journey.

Key patient-facing automation benefits include:

Reminders for medications and appointments
Preventive health notifications
Personalized care tips
AI-driven chat support for common queries
Post-consultation guidance delivery
Automated sharing of doctor notes and reports

SecondMedic uses automation to ensure patients remain engaged throughout their health journey.

Automation and AI: A Powerful Combination

AI enhances healthcare automation by making it adaptive and context-aware. Instead of following fixed rules, AI learns from patterns, outcomes, and user behavior to optimize workflows.

AI strengthens automation through:

Predictive recommendations
Dynamic scheduling adjustments
Automated report summaries
Early detection of errors
Smart escalation of high-risk cases

This combination powers advanced clinical systems that support both providers and patients.

Challenges in Implementing Healthcare Automation in India

Automation requires planning, infrastructure, and careful integration. Key challenges include:

Fragmented patient data across facilities
Infrastructure limitations in rural areas
Varying digital readiness across hospitals
Need for staff training
Ensuring compliance with DPDP and ABDM standards

Despite these challenges, adoption is increasing as digital health becomes mainstream.

The Future of Digital Healthcare Automation in India

India is poised for significant automation growth, driven by advancements in AI, 5G connectivity, cloud platforms, and interoperable health records. Over the next decade, digital healthcare automation will include:

AI-powered hospital command centers
Fully automated radiology and pathology workflows
Robotic process automation (RPA) in administrative processes
Automated care coordination for chronic diseases
Voice-based digital assistants for patient queries
Smart triage algorithms integrated across telemedicine networks
Predictive automation for emergency care

SecondMedic is building a modern digital ecosystem that integrates AI, automation, and predictive healthcare tools, creating a seamless and intelligent healthcare experience for users.

Conclusion

Digital healthcare automation India is unlocking a new era of efficiency, precision, and patient-centered care. By automating clinical workflows, diagnostic tasks, and patient engagement processes, healthcare organizations can deliver faster, more reliable services. Automation supports doctors with real-time insights, reduces administrative burdens, and ensures that patients receive timely interventions.

SecondMedic continues to lead this transformation by integrating automation into virtual care, diagnostics, monitoring, and preventive health solutions, shaping the future of digital healthcare in India.

To access advanced automated digital healthcare tools, visit www.secondmedic.com

References

NITI Aayog – Digital Health India
ABDM – National Digital Health Mission
IMARC – Healthcare Automation Market India
WHO – Digital Health Workflow Automation
FICCI – Hospital Automation India

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