Pre-infection deficiency of vitamin D is associated with increased
disease severity and mortality among hospitalized COVID-19 patients
Study affirms that sufficient vitamin D levels may positively influence
the outcome of infection

Date:
February 6, 2022
Source:
Bar-Ilan University
Summary:
In a new study, researchers show a correlation between vitamin D
deficiency and COVID-19 severity and mortality. The study is among
the first to analyze vitamin D levels prior to infection, which
facilitates a more accurate assessment than during hospitalization,
when levels may be lower secondary to the viral illness.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Vitamin D is most often recognized for its role in bone health, but low
levels of the supplement have been associated with a range of autoimmune, cardiovascular, and infectious diseases. Early on in the pandemic health officials began to encourage people to take vitamin D, as it plays a
role in promoting immune response and could protect against COVID-19.


==========================================================================
In a study published in the journal PLOS ONE researchers from the
Azrieli Faculty of Medicine of Bar-Ilan University in Safed, Israel
and the Galilee Medical Center in Nahariya, Israel show a correlation
between vitamin D deficiency and COVID-19 severity and mortality.

The study is among the first to analyze vitamin D levels prior to
infection, which facilitates a more accurate assessment than during hospitalization, when levels may be lower secondary to the viral illness.

The records of 1,176 patients admitted between April 2020 and February
2021 to the Galilee Medical Center (GMC) with positive PCR tests were
searched for vitamin D levels measured two weeks to two years prior
to infection.

Patients with vitamin D deficiency (less than 20 ng/mL) were 14 times
more likely to have severe or critical case of COVID than those with
more than 40 ng/mL.

Strikingly, mortality among patients with sufficient vitamin D levels
was 2.3%, in contrast to 25.6% in the vitamin D deficient group.

The study adjusted for age, gender, season (summer/winter), chronic
diseases, and found similar results across the board highlighting that
low vitamin D level contributes significantly to disease severity and mortality.

"Our results suggest that it is advisable to maintain normal levels of
vitamin D. This will be beneficial to those who contract the virus,"
says Dr. Amiel Dror, of the Galilee Medical Center and Azrieli Faculty
of Medicine of Bar-Ilan University, who led the study. "There is a clear consensus for vitamin D supplementation on a regular basis as advised
by local health authorities as well as global health organizations."
Dr. Amir Bashkin, an Endocrinologist who participated in the current
study, adds that "This is especially true for the COVID-19 pandemic
when adequate vitamin D has an added benefit for the proper immune
response to respiratory illness." "This study contributes to a
continually evolving body of evidence suggesting that a patient's
history of vitamin D deficiency is a predictive risk factor associated
with poorer COVID-19 clinical disease course and mortality," said
study co-author Prof. Michael Edelstein, of the Azrieli Faculty of
Medicine of Bar-Ilan University. "It is still unclear why certain
individuals suffer severe consequences of COVID-19 infection while
others don't. Our finding adds a new dimension to solving this puzzle." ========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by Bar-Ilan_University. Note: Content
may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Amiel A. Dror, Nicole Morozov, Amani Daoud, Yoav Namir, Orly
Yakir, Yair
Shachar, Mark Lifshitz, Ella Segal, Lior Fisher, Matti Mizrachi,
Netanel Eisenbach, Doaa Rayan, Maayan Gruber, Amir Bashkin, Edward
Kaykov, Masad Barhoum, Michael Edelstein, Eyal Sela. Pre-infection
25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels and association with severity
of COVID-19 illness. PLOS ONE, 2022; 17 (2): e0263069 DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0263069 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/02/220203161135.htm
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