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Association of vitamin D and severity of COVID-19 in children
Pegah Karimian1, Motahareh Sadat Tahami2, Shirin Sayyahfar3
1Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Ali Asghar Children's Hospital, Tehran. Karimian.p@iums.ac.ir.
Insights
Vitamin D plays a crucial role in immune function and inflammation reduction. This study found that moderate vitamin D levels in children are associated with less severe COVID-19 symptoms and fewer complications.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Vitamin D is essential for immune system function and possesses anti-inflammatory properties.
- Emerging evidence suggests a link between vitamin D status and COVID-19 severity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between vitamin D levels and the severity of COVID-19 in pediatric patients.
- To explore the relationship between vitamin D status and clinical manifestations in children with coronavirus.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 101 children diagnosed with COVID-19 between September 2020 and October 2021.
- Data collection included vitamin D levels, demographic information, and clinical/laboratory findings.
- Statistical analyses were performed to determine associations between vitamin D levels and disease severity indicators.
Main Results:
- Children with vitamin D levels below 10 ng/ml exhibited more frequent symptoms and lower oxygen saturation.
- Higher disease involvement was observed in children with vitamin D levels above 30 ng/ml and below 10 ng/ml.
- Moderate vitamin D levels were linked to reduced gastrointestinal complications and less severe clinical signs like tachypnea and tachycardia.
Conclusions:
- Vitamin D levels are significantly associated with COVID-19 severity in children, impacting disease involvement, respiratory distress, and gastrointestinal issues.
- Maintaining adequate vitamin D levels in pediatric populations is crucial for mitigating severe outcomes of coronavirus infection.
Abstract:
Vitamin has a major role in the functions of the immune system, and the efficacy of this vitamin in reducing inflammation has been identified. Considering the effects of vitamin D, this study research was performed for investigating the relationship between vitamin D and the severity of COVID-19 in children. This cross-sectional study was performed on 101 children infected with the new coronavirus from September 2020 to October 2021. Information on vitamin D levels, demographic factors, and clinical and laboratory findings were documented in information forms and prepared for statistical analyses. The average of children was 2.85 ± 0.85 years. Low oxygen saturation was observed in 35.3% of infected children. The level of involvement was higher in subjects with vitamin D levels higher than 30 and less than 10 ng/ml (p = 0.04). Clinical signs in cases with deficient and sufficient vitamin D levels were more severe in terms of tachypnea and tachycardia (p = 0.01). Children with vitamin D lower than 10 ng/ml showed more frequency (p = 0.02). Cases with moderate vitamin D had fewer gastrointestinal complications (p = 0.03). Also, oxygen levels were lower in children who had low levels of vitamin D (p = 0.02). Vitamin D levels were associated with levels of involvement, tachycardia, tachypnea, clinical signs, gastrointestinal problems, and O2 levels. Moderate vitamin D levels in children are a critical issue that should be considered.
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