Vitamin D Metabolites and Clinical Outcome in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients

Nutrients. 2021 Jun 22;13(7):2129. doi: 10.3390/nu13072129.

Abstract

(1) Background: Vitamin D, a well-established regulator of calcium and phosphate metabolism, also has immune-modulatory functions. An uncontrolled immune response and cytokine storm are tightly linked to fatal courses of COVID-19. The present retrospective study aimed to inves-tigate vitamin D status markers and vitamin D degradation products in a mixed cohort of 148 hospitalized COVID-19 patients with various clinical courses of COVID-19. (2) Methods: The serum concentrations of 25(OH)D3, 25(OH)D2, 24,25(OH)2D3, and 25,26(OH)2D3 were determined by a validated liquid-chromatography tandem mass-spectrometry method in leftover serum samples from 148 COVID-19 patients that were admitted to the University Hospital of the Medical Uni-versity of Graz between April and November 2020. Anthropometric and clinical data, as well as outcomes were obtained from the laboratory and hospital information systems. (3) Results: From the 148 patients, 34 (23%) died within 30 days after admission. The frequency of fatal outcomes did not differ between males and females. Non-survivors were significantly older than survivors, had higher peak concentrations of IL-6 and CRP, and required mechanical ventilation more frequently. The serum concentrations of all vitamin D metabolites and the vitamin D metabolite ratio (VMR) did not differ significantly between survivors and non-survivors. Additionally, the need for res-piratory support was unrelated to the serum concentrations of 25(OH)D vitamin D and the two vitamin D catabolites, as well as the VMR. (4) Conclusion: The present results do not support a relevant role of vitamin D for the course and outcome of COVID-19.

Keywords: COVID19; clinical outcome; vitamin D metabolites.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • COVID-19 / blood*
  • COVID-19 / mortality*
  • Chromatography, Liquid / methods
  • Ergocalciferols / blood
  • Female
  • Hospitalization*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Respiration, Artificial / statistics & numerical data
  • Retrospective Studies
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry / methods
  • Vitamin D / analogs & derivatives
  • Vitamin D / blood*
  • Vitamin D Deficiency / blood
  • Vitamins / blood

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Ergocalciferols
  • Vitamins
  • Vitamin D