COVID-19 mortality risk correlates inversely with blood Vitamin D3 levels

1. There is a negative correlation between Vitamin D3 levels and mortality from COVID19.

Evidence Rating Level: 3

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impose a significant burden on healthcare systems worldwide, ongoing research is conducted to evaluate different correlates of disease severity and clinical outcomes. One recent area of interest includes the investigation of how blood calcidiol levels correlate with SARS-CoV-2 infection severity. Prior studies have found low D3 levels to be associated with more severe infection, possibly owing to the negative effects a deficiency may have on immune function. In this systematic review, researchers sought to further investigate this area. Researchers conglomerated results from retrospective cohort and clinical studies, and a population study published between November 2019 to March 2021 to delineate any possible correlation between vitamin D3 levels and COVID-19 mortality risk. Researchers found a moderately negative Pearson’s value (95% CI: −0.805–−0.08) between blood calcidiol levels and COVID-19 mortality risk. The observed median (IQR) vitamin D3 value collected from all eight of the studies was 23.2 ng/mL. A). Interesting, extrapolation of data via regression analysis additionally suggested that at a blood level of 50 ng/mL 25(OH)D3, the COVID-19 mortality risk value could theoretically be zero. Using mathematical regressions, this study also suggests that healthy vitamin D3 levels begin at around 125 nmol/L or 50 ng/mL 25(OH)D3. Study findings show that prior to vaccine availability, people with higher levels of Vitamin D3 were less likely to suffer severe COVID-19 infections and were at a lower risk of dying from the disease compared to those with low or deficient calcidiol levels. This further reinforces the role of adequate calcidiol consumption, and potentially suggests a role for its supplementation as an additional prophylactic means of preventing severe infection.

Click to read the study in Nutrients

Image: PD

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