Vitamin D status: a U-shaped relationship for SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity in UK healthcare workers.
Author
Lugg, Sebastian TMackay, William R
Faniyi, Aduragbemi A
Faustini, Sian E
Webster, Craig
Duffy, Joanne E
Hewison, Martin
Shields, Adrian M
Parekh, Dhruv
Richter, Alex G
Scott, Aaron
Thickett, David R
Publication date
2022-09
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Background: There is increasing evidence that vitamin D (VD) deficiency may increase individuals' risk of COVID-19 infection and susceptibility. We aimed to determine the relationship between VD deficiency and sufficiency and COVID-19 seropositivity within healthcare workers. Methods: The study included an observational cohort of healthcare workers who isolated due to COVID-19 symptoms from 12 May to 22 May 2020, from the University Hospitals Birmingham National Health Service Foundation Trust. Data collected included SARS-CoV-2 seroconversion status, serum 25(OH)D3 levels, age, body mass index (BMI), sex, ethnicity, job role and comorbidities. Participants were grouped into four VD categories: (1) Severe VD deficiency (VD<30 nmol/L); (2) VD deficiency (30 nmol/L ≤VD<50 nmol/L); (3) VD insufficiency (50 nmol/L ≤VD<75 nmol/L); (4) VD sufficiency (VD≥75 nmol/L). Results: When VD levels were compared against COVID-19 seropositivity rate, a U-shaped curve was identified. This trend repeated when participants were split into subgroups of age, sex, ethnicity, BMI and comorbidity status. Significant difference was identified in the COVID-19 seropositivity rate between VD groups in the total population and between groups of men and women; black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) group; BMI<30 (kg/m2); 0 and +1 comorbidities; the majority of which were differences when the severely VD deficient category were compared with the other groups. A larger proportion of those within the BAME group (vs white ethnicity) were severely VD deficient (p<0.00001). A larger proportion of the 0 comorbidity subgroup were VD deficient in comparison to the 1+ comorbidity subgroup (p=0.046). Conclusions: Our study has shown a U-shaped relationship for COVID-19 seropositivity in UK healthcare workers. Further investigation is required to determine whether high VD levels can have a detrimental effect on susceptibility to COVID-19 infection. Future randomised clinical trials of VD supplementation could potentially identify 'optimal' VD levels, allowing for targeted therapeutic treatment for those at risk.Citation
Lugg ST, Mackay WR, Faniyi AA, Faustini SE, Webster C, Duffy JE, Hewison M, Shields AM, Parekh D, Richter AG, Scott A, Thickett DR. Vitamin D status: a U-shaped relationship for SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity in UK healthcare workers. BMJ Open Respir Res. 2022 Sep;9(1):e001258. doi: 10.1136/bmjresp-2022-001258Type
ArticleAdditional Links
http://bmjopenrespres.bmj.com/PMID
36167472Journal
BMJ Open Respiratory ResearchPublisher
BMJ Publishing Groupae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1136/bmjresp-2022-001258