The role of vitamin D in prevention OF COVID-19 and its severity: an umbrella review.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to assess whether low serum 25-OHD levels are associated with susceptibility to COVID-19, its severity, and mortality.
Results Summary
The review found that low serum 25-OHD levels are associated with higher infection risks for COVID-19 and suggested a potential role of vitamin D deficiency in COVID-19 severity, though more robust data are needed to confirm associations with mortality rates.
Population
Hospitalized COVID-19 patients across 5 WHO regions (excluding the African region).
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vitamin D | neutral | immune response | - | - | is known to modulate | #1 |
vitamin D deficiency | increase | respiratory distress | patients hospitalized for pneumonia | - | was associated with | #2 |
low serum 25-OHD | increase | susceptibility to COVID-19 | - | - | is associated with | #3 |
low serum 25-OHD | increase | COVID-19 severity | - | - | is associated with | #4 |
low serum 25-OHD | increase | COVID-19 mortality | - | - | is associated with | #5 |
low serum 25-OHD levels | increase | infection risks for COVID-19 | studies from 5 WHO regions | - | are associated with | #6 |
vitamin D deficiency | increase | COVID-19 severity | hospitalized patients | - | has a potential role in | #7 |
Vitamin D supplementation | neutral | COVID-19 severity | - | - | showing an association with | #8 |
BACKGROUND AND AIM: Vitamin D is known to modulate immune response and its deficiency was associated with respiratory distress in patients hospitalized for pneumonia. Nevertheless, numerous reviews on vitamin D in COVID-19 patients have shown conflicting results, as previously reported also for other respiratory diseases (e.g., influenza). METHODS: This umbrella review aims to assess whether low serum 25-OHD is associated with susceptibility to COVID 19, their severity, and mortality. A total of 1559 studies were excluded after the title, abstract and full-text articles screening and 9 papers were included in this review: 2 systematic reviews and 7 metanalysis. RESULTS: The findings of this review that summarized studies from 5 WHO regions (European Region, Region of the Americas, South-East Asia Region, Eastern Mediterranean Region, Western Pacific Region) to exclusion only African region, show that low serum 25-OHD levels are associated with higher infection risks for COVID-19. CONCLUSIONS: Although the umbrella findings indicate a potential role of vitamin D deficiency in COVID-19 severity in hospitalized patients and showing an association between Vitamin D supplementation and COVID-19 severity, however, more robust data from randomized controlled trials are further needed to confirm a possible association with the mortality rates.