Vitamin D deficiency may predict COVID-19 seroconversion

[George71]

There were ~390 healthcare workers in the study. With a median age of 41 years, almost 75% were female, and over 70% white. More than 60% had other chronic illnesses. The level of vitamin D3 was ~56 nmol/l on average. About 16% had VDD, with a mean of 22·0 nmol/l in the vitamin D deficient group vs. ~ 59 nmol/l in the non-deficient group.

Again, the risk group for COVID-19 mortality is proportional to the distance from the equator, raising the question of whether sunlight exposure and VDD plays a role in this pattern.

The researchers found that being from a BAME background increased the odds of VDD 9-fold, while the chances of being seropositive for COVID-19 were doubled. Using this model, about 78% of cases of VDD were predicted.

VDD Predicts COVID-19 Seroconversion

The only significant risk indicator for COVID-19 seropositivity was VDD, which predicted over half of all cases, independent of sex, age, BMI, chronic illnesses, ethnicity, and occupation. This is the first time researchers have shown that seropositivity for COVID-19 indicates a higher risk for VDD.

This agrees with an earlier observational study showing that “testing positive for COVID-19 was inversely related to vitamin D levels.”

news-medical.net/news/20201...

[pjoshea13]

Note that "The level of vitamin D3 was ~56 nmol/l on average." - which is 22 ng/mL.

"About 16% had VDD, with a mean of 22·0 nmol/l in the vitamin D deficient group vs. ~ 59 nmol/l in the non-deficient group."

i.e. mean in the deficient group was 8.8 ng/mL. & 23.6 ng/mL in the non-deficient group.

These are abysmal levels.

One expects low D levels in the UK, but those are not even winter stats.

What I find appalling is that the numbers are for healthcare professionals, who one expects to be somewhat educated about the importance of D.

medrxiv.org/content/10.1101...

-Patrick

[George71 in reply to pjoshea13]

Yes ! that is what stood out to me also -- the normal level was 56 (some over 100)-- and the upper VDD was nearly 40 -- (which some think is adequate) unless someone is getting a lot of daily skin exposure in the sun -- near the equator they can't hardly maintain bare minimums (even if supplementing 2K to 4K -- which many in the VDD probably were) ... it also noted the proven benefits of D in disease prevention and many body functions that are used and depleted needing regular intake for reserves and maintenance of available VD.

This confirms the recent double blind covid19 study done that showed patients given 20,000 Vitamin D upon admission to hospital and 10,000 for a week were 20 times less likely to be admitted to ICU than those not given additional VD upon arrival.