‘Scientific Strabismus’ or two related pandemics: coronavirus disease and vitamin D deficiency

Kara, Murat; Ekiz, Timur; Ricci, Vincenzo; Kara, Özgür; Chang, Ke‐Vin; Özçakar, Levent

doi:10.1017/s0007114520001749

Cited by 77 publications

(106 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…First-generation non-Western immigrants, even in countries with low overall rates, are often vitamin D deficient (176)(177)(178). Vitamin D deficiency is especially common in the elderly, in part because synthesis from sunlight is muted in old age (19,31,34,116,122,(179)(180)(181)(182). Naturally melaninrich skin increases vitamin D deficiency risks, particularly in high latitudes (13,34,112,116,122,148,181).…”

Section: Risk For Severe Covid-19 Parallels Risk For Vitamin D Deficimentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Vitamin D deficiency is especially common in the elderly, in part because synthesis from sunlight is muted in old age (19,31,34,116,122,(179)(180)(181)(182). Naturally melaninrich skin increases vitamin D deficiency risks, particularly in high latitudes (13,34,112,116,122,148,181). It takes significantly more sunlight exposure for someone with dark skin to attain the benefits that someone with lighter skin receives (14).…”

Section: Risk For Severe Covid-19 Parallels Risk For Vitamin D Deficimentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It takes significantly more sunlight exposure for someone with dark skin to attain the benefits that someone with lighter skin receives (14). Lower 25(OH)D is associated with diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and COPD risk (19,25,31,34,183). Dialysis patients are often severely vitamin D deficient (184).…”

Section: Risk For Severe Covid-19 Parallels Risk For Vitamin D Deficimentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Current increased "stay at home" regulations and increased boredom and stress can be expected to result in eating patterns which increase obesity and the comorbidities with which it is associated (189). In part because vitamin D is fat-soluble, obese individuals have increased daily vitamin D intake requirements and are often deficient (25,34,57,91,175,190,191). In addition, vitamin D deficiency causes the body to store more fat by increasing parathyroid hormone levels (192).…”

Section: Risk For Severe Covid-19 Parallels Risk For Vitamin D Deficimentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Basic Review of the Preliminary Evidence That COVID-19 Risk and Severity Is Increased in Vitamin D Deficiency

Benskin

2020

Front. Public Health

137

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As the world's attention has been riveted upon the growing COVID-19 pandemic, many researchers have written brief reports supporting the hypothesis that vitamin D deficiency is related to the incidence and severity of COVID-19. The clear common thread among the top risk groups-vitamin D deficiency-may be being overlooked because of previous overstated claims of vitamin D benefits. However, the need to decrease COVID-19 fatalities among high-risk populations is urgent. Early researchers reported three striking patterns. Firstly, the innate immune system is impaired by vitamin D deficiency, which would predispose sufferers to viral infections such as COVID-19. Vitamin D deficiency also increases the activity of the X-chromosome-linked "Renin-Angiotensin" System, making vitamin D deficient individuals (especially men) more susceptible to COVID-19's deadly "cytokine storm" (dramatic immune system overreaction). Secondly, the groups who are at highest risk for severe COVID-19 match those who are at highest risk for severe vitamin D deficiency. This includes the elderly, men, ethnic groups whose skin is naturally rich in melanin (if living outside the tropics), those who avoid sun exposure for cultural and health reasons, those who live in institutions, the obese, and/or those who suffer with hypertension, cardiovascular disease, or diabetes. And thirdly, the pattern of geographical spread of COVID-19 reflects higher population vitamin D deficiency. Both within the USA and throughout the world, COVID-19 fatality rates parallel vitamin D deficiency rates. A literature search was performed on PubMed, Google Scholar, and RSMLDS, with targeted Google searches providing additional sources. Although randomized controlled trial results may be available eventually, the correlational and causal study evidence supporting a link between vitamin D deficiency and COVID-19 risks is already so strong that it supports action. The 141 author groups writing primarily about biological plausibility detailed how vitamin D deficiency can explain every risk factor and every complication of COVID-19, but agreed that other factors are undoubtedly at work. COVID-19 was compared with dengue fever, for which oral vitamin D supplements of 4,000 IU for 10 days were significantly more effective than 1,000 IU in reducing virus replication and controlling the "cytokine storm" (dramatic immune system over-reaction) responsible for fatalities. Among the 47 original research studies summarized here, chart reviews found that serum vitamin D levels predicted COVID-19 mortality Benskin Evidence Linking Vitamin D, COVID-19 rates (16 studies) and linearly predicted COVID-19 illness severity (8 studies). Two causal modeling studies and several analyses of variance strongly supported the hypothesis that vitamin D deficiency is a causal, rather than a bystander, factor in COVID-19 outcomes. Three of the four studies whose findings opposed the hypothesis relied upon disproven assumptions. The literature review also found that prophylactically correcting possible ...

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Section: Risk For Severe Covid-19 Parallels Risk For Vitamin D Deficimentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Risk For Severe Covid-19 Parallels Risk For Vitamin D Deficimentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Risk For Severe Covid-19 Parallels Risk For Vitamin D Deficimentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Risk For Severe Covid-19 Parallels Risk For Vitamin D Deficimentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

A Basic Review of the Preliminary Evidence That COVID-19 Risk and Severity Is Increased in Vitamin D Deficiency

Benskin

2020

Front. Public Health

137

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“…Advanced age and underlying chronic medical conditions, particularly chronic pulmonary and cardiac diseases, appeared as the most conspicuous predisposing factors for the development of severe COVID-19 and consequent death (2,3). However, recent observations regarding the relatively greater impact of the disease on the northern latitudes led to the generation of the hypothesis that vitamin D deficiency, to some extent, might have caused a tendency for an increased burden of the disease in vitamin D deficient COVID-19 patients, especially among the elderly (4)(5)(6).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of Serum 25(OH) Vitamin D Level on Mortality in Patients with COVID-19 in Turkey

Karahan

Katkat

2021

The Journal of nutrition, health and aging

105

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Background: Because of the lack of sufficient data, we aimed to investigate the role of serum 25(OH) vitamin D level on COVID severity and related mortality. Methods: This was a retrospective observational study. Data, including sociodemographic features, clinical characteristics, and laboratory data, and 25(OH) vitamin D levels were recorded for each study participant. Patients were stratified into different vitamin D groups; Normal (Serum 25(OH) vitamin D level >30 ng/mL), Vitamin D insufficiency (21-29 ng/mL), and deficiency (<20 ng/ mL). The severity of COVID was classified according to the Chinese Clinical Guideline for classification of COVID-19 severity. Mortality data were determined for participants. Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine independent predictors of in-hospital mortality. Results: Overall, 149 COVID-19 patients (females 45.6%, mean age 63.5 ± 15.3 (range 24-90 years) years) were included. Fortyseven patients (31.5%) had moderate COVID-19, whereas 102 patients (68.5%) had severe-critical COVID-19. The mean 25(OH) vitamin D level was 15.2 ± 10.3 ng/mL. Thirty-four (22.8%) and 103 (69.1%) patients had vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency, respectively. Mean serum 25(OH) vitamin D level was significantly lower in patients with severe-critical COVID-19 compared with moderate COVID-19 (10.1 ± 6.2 vs. 26.3 ± 8.4 ng/mL, respectively, p<0.001). Vitamin D insufficiency was present in 93.1% of the patients with severe-critical COVID-19. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that only lymphocyte count, white blood cell count, serum albumin and, 25(OH) vitamin D level were independent predictors of mortality. Conclusion: Serum 25(OH) vitamin D was independently associated with mortality in COVID-19 patients.

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The role of DBP gene polymorphisms in the prevalence of new coronavirus disease 2019 infection and mortality rate

Batur

Hekim

2020

Journal of Medical Virology

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Since December 2019, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, has given rise to emerging respiratory infections with pandemic diffusion. The vitamin D binding protein (DBP) with emphasis on its regulation of total and free vitamin D metabolite levels participate in various clinical conditions. The main goal of this study was to evaluate if there was any association between the DBP gene polymorphism at rs7041 and rs4588 loci and the prevalence of COVID‐19 and its mortality rates caused among populations of 10 countries including Turkey. Positive significant correlations were found between the prevalence (per million) and mortality rates (per million), and GT genotype ( P < .05) while there was a negative significant correlation between prevalence (per million) and mortality rates (per million), and TT genotype at rs7041 locus among all populations ( P < .05). However, no significant correlation was found at rs4588 locus. GT genotype was found to confer this susceptibility to the populations of Germany, Mexico, Italy, Czech, and Turkey. The variations in the prevalence of COVID‐19 and its mortality rates among countries may be explained by Vitamin D metabolism differed by the DBP polymorphisms of rs7041 and rs4588 .

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‘Scientific Strabismus’ or two related pandemics: coronavirus disease and vitamin D deficiency

Cited by 77 publications

References 49 publications

A Basic Review of the Preliminary Evidence That COVID-19 Risk and Severity Is Increased in Vitamin D Deficiency

A Basic Review of the Preliminary Evidence That COVID-19 Risk and Severity Is Increased in Vitamin D Deficiency

Impact of Serum 25(OH) Vitamin D Level on Mortality in Patients with COVID-19 in Turkey

The role of DBP gene polymorphisms in the prevalence of new coronavirus disease 2019 infection and mortality rate

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