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Association Between Vitamin D Levels and COVID-19 Infection in Children: A Case-Control Study

Harun Bayrak1, Didem Öztürk1, Ahmet Bolat1

  • 1Department of General Pediatrics, University of Health Sciences Gülhane Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.

Turkish Archives of Pediatrics
|April 5, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Children with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have lower vitamin D levels. This study found significantly lower 25(OH)-D vitamin levels in pediatric COVID-19 patients compared to healthy controls.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Infectious Diseases
  • Nutritional Immunology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) affects all age groups with variable clinical presentations.
  • Vitamin D is recognized for its immunomodulatory, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties, potentially offering protection against infections.
  • Its role in pediatric COVID-19 outcomes warrants further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between vitamin D levels and COVID-19 infection in pediatric patients.
  • To compare vitamin D status in children diagnosed with COVID-19 versus healthy controls.

Main Methods:

  • A comparative study including pediatric patients (1 month to 18 years) diagnosed with COVID-19 and a healthy control group.
  • Evaluation of epidemiological, clinical, laboratory, and imaging findings.
  • Measurement of serum 25(OH)-D vitamin levels in both groups.

Main Results:

  • The study included 149 participants: 73 (49%) COVID-19 positive and 76 (51%) healthy controls.
  • Mean 25(OH)-D vitamin levels were significantly lower in COVID-19 patients (15.80 ng/mL) compared to the control group (21.51 ng/mL) (P < .001).
  • Myalgia was more frequently reported in pediatric patients with low 25(OH)-D levels (P < .048).

Conclusions:

  • Pediatric patients with COVID-19 exhibit lower serum 25(OH)-D vitamin levels compared to healthy children.
  • This finding suggests a potential link between vitamin D deficiency and COVID-19 susceptibility or severity in the pediatric population.
  • Further research is needed to elucidate the precise role of vitamin D in pediatric COVID-19.
Abstract

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