Low plasma 25(OH) vitamin D levels associated with increased risk of COVID-19 infection

Vitamin D is recognized as an important cofactor in several physiological processes related to bone and calcium metabolism, including autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, obesity and cognitive decline, and infectious diseases. , Is also recognized in a variety of non-skeletal outcomes. In particular, the significant effects of vitamin D metabolites on the immune system response and the development of COVID-19 infection by the novel SARS CoV-2 virus have been previously reported in several studies worldwide.

A collaborative group of scientists from Leumit Health Services (LHS) and Azrieli Faculty of Medicine at Bar-Ilan University aims to identify an association between low plasma 25(OH)D and risk of COVID-19 infection and hospitalization. did. Using real-world data and an Israeli cohort of 782 COVID-19-positive and 7,025 COVID-19-negative patients, the group found that low plasma vitamin D levels were Independent risk factors Due to COVID-19 infection and hospitalization. The study was just published FEBS journal..

“The main findings of our study were low plasma vitamin D levels and possible COVID-19 infection in patients tested for COVID-19, even after adjusting for age, gender, socioeconomic status, and chronicity. Was a significant association of. Mental and physical disorders.” “In addition, low vitamin D levels were associated with a risk of hospitalization for COVID-19 infections, but this association was not significant after adjustment for other confounders,” he added. “Our findings are consistent with previous findings in the field. A lower risk of acute respiratory infections after vitamin D supplementation has been reported,” said Ilan Green, director of the LHS Laboratory. “.

“Our analysis showed that COVID-19-positive people were older than non-infected individuals. Interestingly, two peak distributions in age groups demonstrated increased risk of COVID-19. About 25 and 50 years old, “said Dr. Milana Frenkel Morgenstan, leader of the Azrieli School of Medicine research group.” The first peak may be explained by the high social habits of younger ages. The peak at age 50 may be explained by the continuation of social habits associated with various chronic illnesses, “Frenkel Morgenstan continued.

“Surprisingly, Chronic condition“We don’t see an increase in infection rates like dementia, cardiovascular disease, and chronic lung disease, which in previous studies were considered very dangerous,” said Shlomo Vinker, LHS Chief Medical Officer. This finding is very biased by the strict social contact limits imposed on all populations during the outbreak of COVID-19. We assume that some patients have significantly reduced social contact, which may actually minimize the risk of COVID-19 infection in that patient group,” explains Vinker.

Dr. Dmitry Torowski and Dr. Alessandro Golovovsky. Researchers at the Frenkel-Morgenstern Research Institute at the Azrieli School of Medicine at the University of Bairan have suggested that this study could have a huge impact. “The main strength of our research is that it is large, real-world, and population-based,” they explained. Researchers are now planning to assess factors associated with COVID-19 mortality in Israel. “To assess the risk of mortality from COVID-19, we are ready to find a link to the clinical outcome of COVID-19 (eg pre-infection glycemic control in COVID-19 patients).” infection In Israel.”