Vitamin D Levels are Associated with Blood Glucose and BMI in COVID-19 Patients, Predicting Disease Severity

 

High prevalence of low vitamin D levels is associated with increased disease severity due to an increased immune-inflammatory response.  

• Vitamin D levels were on average 16.3 ng/mL and 68.2% of patients were deficient. 

• Vitamin D deficiency was found more in male patients than female (77% vs. 48%). 
• There was a negative correlation between vitamin D levels and Neutrophil/Lymphocyte ratio, CRP levels, and cytokine levels.  
• Lower vitamin D levels were found in patients affected by severe disease (65%) compared to non-deficient patients (39%). 
• Vitamin D levels were lower in hyperglycemic patients. 
• Vitamin D levels negatively correlated with BMI (r = -0.26). 

88 Adult patients admitted to San Raffaele University Hospital for COVID-19 during the first Italian wave (Male: 67%, Female: 33%; Age: 56.8 y/o).

• A possible direct relationship between vitamin D, body fat, age, COVID-19 infection, and COVID-19 severity is likely.  
• Vitamin D deficiency may be the variable in the endocrine pathway that influences patient outcomes. 

We showed, for the first-time, a strict association of VD levels with blood GLU and BMI in COVID-19 patients. VD deficiency might be a novel common pathophysiological mechanism involved in the detrimental effect of hyperglycemia and adiposity on disease severity.

Retrospective sub-study of the COVID-BioB study – a large prospective observational investigation.

di Filippo L, Allora A, Doga M, Formenti AM, Locatelli M, Rovere Querini P, Frara S, Giustina A. Vitamin D Levels Are Associated With Blood Glucose and BMI in COVID-19 Patients, Predicting Disease Severity. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2022 Jan 1;107(1): e348-e360. doi: 10.1210/clinem/dgab599. PMID: 34383926; PMCID: PMC8385994.