25-Hydroxyvitamin D Concentrations Are Lower in Patients with Positive PCR for SARS-CoV-2

Antonio D'Avolio, Valeria Avataneo, Alessandra Manca, Jessica Cusato, Amedeo De Nicolò, Renzo Lucchini, Franco Keller, Marco Cantù, Antonio D'Avolio, Valeria Avataneo, Alessandra Manca, Jessica Cusato, Amedeo De Nicolò, Renzo Lucchini, Franco Keller, Marco Cantù

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), with a clinical outcome ranging from mild to severe, including death. To date, it is unclear why some patients develop severe symptoms. Many authors have suggested the involvement of vitamin D in reducing the risk of infections; thus, we retrospectively investigated the 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations in plasma obtained from a cohort of patients from Switzerland. In this cohort, significantly lower 25(OH)D levels (p = 0.004) were found in PCR-positive for SARS-CoV-2 (median value 11.1 ng/mL) patients compared with negative patients (24.6 ng/mL); this was also confirmed by stratifying patients according to age >70 years. On the basis of this preliminary observation, vitamin D supplementation might be a useful measure to reduce the risk of infection. Randomized controlled trials and large population studies should be conducted to evaluate these recommendations and to confirm our preliminary observation.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; concentrations; coronavirus; deficiency; vitamin D.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest and no competing financial interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations in the three evaluated groups (patients from 1 March to 14 April of 2019 and 2020 with a negative PCR, and of 2020 with a positive PCR for SARS-CoV-2. *: significant results.
Figure 2
Figure 2
(A) 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations in the three evaluated groups divided by gender (patients from 1 March to 14 April of 2019 and 2020 with a negative PCR, and of 2020 with a positive PCR to SARS-CoV-2; (B) 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations in the three evaluated groups divided by age (0–70 years vs. >70 years) (patients from 1 March to 14 April of 2019 and 2020 with a negative PCR, and of 2020 with a positive PCR for SARS-CoV-2. *: significant results.
Figure 2
Figure 2
(A) 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations in the three evaluated groups divided by gender (patients from 1 March to 14 April of 2019 and 2020 with a negative PCR, and of 2020 with a positive PCR to SARS-CoV-2; (B) 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations in the three evaluated groups divided by age (0–70 years vs. >70 years) (patients from 1 March to 14 April of 2019 and 2020 with a negative PCR, and of 2020 with a positive PCR for SARS-CoV-2. *: significant results.

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Source: PubMed

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