The Clinical Significance of Vitamin D and Zinc Levels with Respect to Immune Response in COVID-19 Positive Children

Abstract

Aim: In this study, we aimed to evaluate serum vitamin D and zinc levels in children diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Materials and methods: In this study, 88 children with COVID-19 disease and 88 healthy children aged 1-18 years were enrolled between 01 July 2021 and 30 October 2021 in the Pediatrics Clinic of Tekirdağ Çorlu State Hospital. Serum vitamin D and zinc levels have been measured and NCSS (Number Cruncher Statistical System) program has been utilized for statistical analysis.

Results: We included 88 COVID-19 positive pediatric patients [50% (n = 44) female] and 88 healthy children [48.86% (n = 43) female] in this study. The mean serum vitamin D levels of COVID-19 positive patients were statistically significantly lower than the control group (p = 0.0001). The zinc mean values of the study group were found to be statistically significantly lower than the control group (p = 0.0001). There was a statistically significant correlation between serum vitamin D and zinc values in all patient groups (r = 0.245, p = 0.001).

Conclusion: As a result, zinc and vitamin D levels were observed lower in COVID-19 patients than in healthy individuals. Since there is no defined treatment protocol for COVID-19 infection on children yet, zinc and vitamin D supplementation can be used as a supportive treatment in COVID-19 infection.

Keywords: COVID-19; immune system; immunomodulatory; vitamin D; zinc.