A STUDY OF SERUM VITAMIN D LEVELS IN COVID 19 PATIENTS AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH SEVERITY OF THE DISEASE

Abstract

Background: Vitamin D recently has been reviewed as one of the factors that may affect the severity in COVID 19 infection. Despite its role in calcium and phosphorus metabolism, vitamin D has multiple effects on cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, immune regulation, genome stability and neurogenesis. Recent studies have also found that vitamin D deficiency is closely associated with infectious diseases, diabetes, cancers, autoimmune diseases and cardiovascular diseases.

Materials and methods: The current study was undertaken for a period of 6 weeks. The study enrolled 125 COVID 19 positive patients, 60 in group A (non-hypoxic) and 65 in group B (hypoxic but not requiring ICU admission). Participants were of age group 20-60 years. Serum levels of 25(OH) vitamin D were measured. Serum vitamin D concentration was estimated by using CLIA (Chemiluminescence Immuno Assay) technique.  Standard statistical analysis was performed to analyze the differences.

Results: The mean level of vitamin D was 31.87 ng/ml in group A and 18.11ng/ml in group B, the difference was highly significant (p value <0.0001). Vitamin D level is markedly low in group B patients. In hypoxic patients (group B), 60% were having deficient serum vitamin D level and 33.8% were having insufficient level of serum vitamin D.

Conclusion: In our study in comparison to non-hypoxic group, vitamin D level is low in hypoxic group. Vitamin D supplementation may help for COVID19 patients.