Patients hospitalized with COVID-19 have low levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D

Excerpt

The coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) causes COVID-19. The disease has already afflicted over 54 million persons worldwide and has caused over 1.3 million deaths [1]. While most patients recovery uneventfully, some develop an acute pulmonary syndrome that requires hospitalization for supportive care [2]. Risk factors for symptomatic manifestations include male sex, diabetes mellitus, obesity, and hypertension [3, 4]. Another recently recognized potential risk factor is vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D is an important modulator of innate and acquired immunity [5, 6]. Low levels are associated with bacterial and viral infections [7]. In addition, in countries with lower mean levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, mortality from COVID-19 is higher [8]. Preliminary studies suggest that vitamin D supplementation may improve outcomes [9]. While much of the data implicating vitamin D and COVID-19 has been indirect, recent reports have shown markedly reduced levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D among those hospitalized with COVID-19 [10, 11]. These observations are consistent with a plausible pathophysiological role of vitamin D in the disease process [6]. …