The Impact of Serum Levels of Vitamin D3 and Its Metabolites on the Prognosis and Disease Severity of COVID-19

This study found that vitamin D3 and its metabolites were significantly lower in patients with COVID-19 compared to healthy subjects. 

• Cholecalciferol, calcifediol, and calcitriol were significantly lower in COVID-19 patients; however, their relative ratios were normal in both groups.  
• ACE2, IL-6, and NLR were significantly higher in subjects with COVID-19 compared to healthy individuals.  
• Serum levels of all forms of vitamin D correlated positively with ACE2 and negatively with IL-6.  

103 COVID-19 patients and 50 healthy subjects in Saudi Arabia.

• There was a small number of participants in the study and involved only patients from the first wave of COVID-19.  
• The study did not specifically report on disease severity in the patients with COVID-19. 
• The authors noted that larger, multicenter studies are required. 

COVID-19 infection severity is associated with a significant decrease in vitamin D3 and its metabolites in a parallel pattern, and with a significant increase in ACE2, IL-6, and NLR. Higher levels of vitamin D and its metabolites are potentially protective against severe infection.

• This observational study investigated vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) and its metabolites calcifediol and calcitriol, and correlations with angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in the serum of COVID-19 patients and healthy controls. 
• 103 patients with COVID-9 and 50 healthy patients were enrolled in the study. Oropharyngeal samples were collected for PCR testing for COVID-19, and blood and serum were collected for blood count, NLR, levels of vitamin D and metabolites, and ACE2 and IL-6. 

Khojah HMJ, Ahmed SA, Al-Thagfan SS, Alahmadi YM, Abdou YA. The Impact of Serum Levels of Vitamin D3 and Its Metabolites on the Prognosis and Disease Severity of COVID-19. Nutrients. 2022 Dec 15;14(24):5329. doi: 10.3390/nu14245329.