Vitamin D and Sex Differences in COVID-19

Pagano, Maria; Peruzzu, Daniela; Ruggieri, Anna; Ortona, Elena; Gagliardi, Maria Cristina

doi:10.3389/fendo.2020.567824

Cited by 27 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 34 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Vitamin D has also received attention in the immune pathogenesis of COVID-19 (17) and Pagano et al hypothesiezed that the synergy between Vitamin D3 and estrogen could affect the sex differences in the outcome of patients with COVID-19 (18, 19). However, no rigorous data are yet available on this issues and, in our series, Vitamin D levels have not been reported.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The sex-related pre-existing comorbidities, such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease and diabetes, can play a role, since they were associated with severe outcomes and are more frequent in men (3). Also, hormonal and genetic factors can affect ACE2 expression, the receptor of SARS-CoV-2 (4-6), microRNAs expressions and transcription (7), and Vitamin D3 activity (8).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Influence of sex on disease severity in children with COVID-19 and Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Latin America

Brizuela¹,

Lenzi

Ulloa‐Gutiérrez

et al. 2021

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Data from adult studies how that COVID-19 is more severe in men than women. However, no data are available for the pediatric population. For this reason, we performed this study aiming to understand if sex influenced disease severity and outcomes in a large cohort of latin-american children with COVID-19 and Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome (MIS-C). We found that a higher percentage of male children developed MIS-C (8.9% vs 5% in females) and died (1.2% and 0.4% in females), although on multivariate adjusted analyses the only statistically significant difference was found in need of hospitalization, with females less frequently admitted compared with boys (25.6% vs 35.4%). This data are preliminary and need further independent studies to better assess the role of sex.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of sex on disease severity in children with COVID-19 and Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Latin America

Brizuela¹,

Lenzi

Ulloa‐Gutiérrez

et al. 2021

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…A different but related point concerns Vitamin D, as it has been suggested that low levels of D3 may correlate with poorer infection outcomes. Estrogen may enhance vitamin D’s actions, which include reducing the cytokine storm, and in this way contribute to sex-based differences ( Pagano et al, 2020 ). A collection of papers covering endocrinology and COVID19 was published in 2020 2 .…”

Section: Immunological Responses and Sex Differencesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Physiological Mechanisms of the Sex-Based Difference in Outcomes of COVID19 Infection

Wray

Arrowsmith

2021

Front. Physiol.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The scale of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has thrust a spotlight on the sex-based differences in response to viral diseases; morbidity and mortality are greater in men than women. We outline the mechanisms by which being female offers a degree of protection from COVID19, that persists even when confounders such as comorbidities are considered. The physiological and immunological mechanisms are fascinating and range from incomplete X chromosome inactivation of immune genes, a crucial role for angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), and regulation of both immune activity and ACE2 by sex steroids. From this flows understanding of why lung and other organs are more susceptible to COVID19 damage in men, and how their distinct immunological landscapes need to be acknowledged to guide prognosis and treatment. Pregnancy, menopause, and hormone replacement therapy bring changed hormonal environments and the need for better stratification in COVID19 studies. We end by noting clinical trials based on increasing estrogens or progesterone or anti-testosterone drugs; excellent examples of translational physiology.

show abstract

“…Even a minor effect on protection from infection that might turn the COVID-19 effective reproduction number from slightly above one (as estimated for many countries shortly before or during lockdown measures of varying intensity during most of the second half of 2020) to slightly below one could make the difference between further exponential growth or regression of the pandemic. In the absence of specific contraindications, supplementation with safe, but sufficient doses (e.g., ranging from 800 to 4000 IU/day for older adults depending on individual factors, such as age and sex [ 38 , 39 ], body mass index, or comorbidity) should thus be strongly promoted for the population at large and the high-risk population in particular, not only to those with already manifest COVID-19 infection. Despite remaining uncertainties with respect to optimal dosing, evidence from vitamin D trials with other endpoints suggests supplementation should preferably be done on a regular basis rather than by occasional high-dose bolus therapy.…”

Section: Public Health and Clinical Implicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vitamin D Supplementation to Prevent COVID-19 Infections and Deaths—Accumulating Evidence from Epidemiological and Intervention Studies Calls for Immediate Action

Brenner

2021

Nutrients

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The COVID-19 pandemic poses an unprecedented threat to human health, health care systems, public life, and economy around the globe. The repertoire of effective therapies for severe courses of the disease has remained limited. A large proportion of the world population suffers from vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency, with prevalence being particularly high among the COVID-19 high-risk populations. Vitamin D supplementation has been suggested as a potential option to prevent COVID-19 infections, severe courses, and deaths from the disease, but is not widely practiced. This article provides an up-to-date summary of recent epidemiological and intervention studies on a possible role of vitamin D supplementation for preventing severe COVID-19 cases and deaths. Despite limitations and remaining uncertainties, accumulating evidence strongly supports widespread vitamin D supplementation, in particular of high-risk populations, as well as high-dose supplementation of those infected. Given the dynamics of the COVID-19 pandemic, the benefit–risk ratio of such supplementation calls for immediate action even before results of ongoing large-scale randomized trials become available.

show abstract

Vitamin D and Sex Differences in COVID-19

Cited by 27 publications

References 34 publications

Influence of sex on disease severity in children with COVID-19 and Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Latin America

Influence of sex on disease severity in children with COVID-19 and Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Latin America

The Physiological Mechanisms of the Sex-Based Difference in Outcomes of COVID19 Infection

Vitamin D Supplementation to Prevent COVID-19 Infections and Deaths—Accumulating Evidence from Epidemiological and Intervention Studies Calls for Immediate Action

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About