TY - JOUR AB - Currently, the world is under a pandemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2), responsible for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‑19). This disease is characterized by a respiratory syndrome that can progress to an acute respiratory distress syndrome. To date, limited effective therapies are available for the prevention or treatment of COVID‑19; therefore, it is necessary to propose novel treatment options with immunomodulatory effects. Vitamin D serves functions in bone health and has been recently reported to exert protective effects against respiratory infections. Observational studies have demonstrated an association between vitamin D deficiency and a poor prognosis of COVID‑19; this is alarming as vitamin D deficiency is a global health problem. In Latin America, the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency is unknown, and currently, this region is in the top 10 according to the number of confirmed COVID‑19 cases. Supplementation with vitamin D may be a useful adjunctive treatment for the prevention of COVID‑19 complications. The present review provides an overview of the current knowledge of the potential immunomodulatory effects of vitamin D in the prevention of COVID‑19 and sets out vitamin D recommendations for the Latin American population. AD - Institute of Research in Biomedical Sciences, University Center of Health Sciences (CUCS), Guadalajara, Jalisco 44340, México AU - Turrubiates‑Hernández,Francisco,Javier AU - Sánchez‑Zuno,Gabriela,Athziri AU - González‑Estevez,Guillermo AU - Hernández‑Bello,Jorge AU - Macedo‑Ojeda,Gabriela AU - Muñoz‑Valle,José,Francisco DA - 2021/04/01 DO - 10.3892/ijmm.2021.4865 IS - 4 JO - Int J Mol Med KW - vitamin D ergocalciferol cholecalciferol severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 coronavirus coronavirus disease 2019 prevention immunomodulation respiratory tract infections Latin America PY - 2021 SN - 1107-3756 1791-244X SP - 32 ST - Potential immunomodulatory effects of vitamin D in the prevention of severe coronavirus disease 2019: An ally for Latin America (Review) T2 - International Journal of Molecular Medicine TI - Potential immunomodulatory effects of vitamin D in the prevention of severe coronavirus disease 2019: An ally for Latin America (Review) UR - https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2021.4865 VL - 47 ER -