Vitamin D status and seroconversion for COVID-19 in UK healthcare workers who isolated for COVID-19 like symptoms during the 2020 pandemic.
Aduragbemi A Faniyi, Sebastian T Lugg, Sian E Faustini, Craig Webster, Joanne E Duffy, Martin Hewison,4 Adrian Shields,2 3 Peter Nightingale,3 Alex G Richter,23** David R Thickett.13**
Correspondence to Prof David R Thickett, Institute of Inflammation and Ageing, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TH, UK; d.thickett at bham.ac.uk
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Higher D: Fewer people made antibodies
Higher D: Fewer male BAME made antibodies
Note: BAME were 8.9X more likely to have <30 nmol of VItamin D
Higher D: Less fever
Higher D: Fewer aches and pains
Summary
Background: It is clear that in UK healthcare workers, COVID-19 infections and deaths were more likely to be in staff who were of BAME origin. This has led to much speculation about the role of vitamin D in healthcare worker COVID-19 infections. We aimed to determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in NHS staff who have isolated with symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 and relate this to vitamin D status.
Methods: We recruited NHS healthcare workers between 12th to 22nd May 2020 as part of the COVID-19 convalescent immunity study (COCO). We measured anti-SARS-Cov-2 antibodies using a combined IgG, IgA and IgM ELISA (The Binding Site). Vitamin D status was determined by measurement of serum 25(OH)D3 using the AB SCIEX Triple Quad 4500 mass spectrometry system.
Findings: Of the 392 NHS healthcare workers, 214 (55%) had seroconverted for COVID-19. A total of 61 (15.6%) members of staff were vitamin D deficient (<30 nmol/l) with significantly more staff from BAME backgrounds or in a junior doctor role being deficient. Vitamin D levels were lower in those who were younger, had a higher BMI (>30 kg/m2), and were male. Multivariate analysis revealed that BAME and COVID-19 seroconversion were independent predictors of vitamin D deficiency. Staff who were vitamin D deficient were more likely to self-report symptoms of body aches and pains but importantly not the respiratory symptoms of cough and breathlessness. Vitamin D levels were lower in those COVID-19 positive staff who reported fever, but this did not reach statistical significance. Within the whole cohort there was an increase in seroconversion in staff with vitamin D deficiency compared to those without vitamin D deficiency (n=44/61, 72% vs n=170/331, 51%; p=0*003); this was particularly marked in the proportion of BAME males who were vitamin D deficient compared to non-vitamin D deficient BAME males (n=17/18, 94% vs n=12/23, 52%; p=0*005). Multivariate analysis revealed that vitamin D deficiency was an independent risk factor for seroconversion (OR 2.6, 95%CI 1.41-4.80; p=0.002).
Interpretation: In those healthcare workers who have isolated due to symptoms of COVID-19, those of BAME ethnicity are at the highest risk of vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D deficiency is a risk factor for COVID-19 seroconversion for NHS healthcare workers especially in BAME male staff.
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COVID-19 news
COVID-19 and Dark Skins
COVID-19 treated by Vitamin D - studies, reports, videos
As of Jan 25 had: 34 trials, 4 trial results, 12 meta-analyses and reviews, 46 observations, 25 recommendations, 42 associations, 83 speculations, 38 videos see also COVID-19 and Vitamin D: Governments. Health problems. Hospitals
Top Vitamin D and COVID-19 recent updates
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- Vitamin D-COVID interview by Dr. Campbell of Davies (member of UK Parliament) - Jan 17, 2021
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- 3.7 X less likely to die of COVID-19 if supplemented with Vitamin D - meta-analysis Jan 5, 2021
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- Less likely to test positive for COVID-19 if higher Vitamin D – meta-analysis Jan 6, 2021
- Vitamin D reduces COVID-19 by 80 percent - anonymous meta-analysis - Jan 5, 2021
- COVID 19 Video - Drs. Seheult and Campbell : Lessons Learned and a Look Ahead - Jan 4
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- COVID-19 Disease and Vitamin D: A Mini-Review – Dec 15, 2020
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- COVID-19 plus pneumonia in ICU with low vitamin D equaled Death - Dec 2020
- Excellent on-going analysis of Vitamin D and COVID-19 publications
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- COVID-19 Vitamin D: Overview of Evidence by Dr. Seheult (Video and transcript) - Dec 10, 2020
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- COVID-19 and Vitamin D: Health Authorities do not understand risk-reward – Nov 2020
- c19study.com/d has excellent synopsis of Vitamin D and COVID studies
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click to see 3 weeks in Nov 2020
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- COVID-19 – Putative Roles of Vitamin D – Nov 2020
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- Virtually no COVID-19 cases in countries having more than 30 ng of Vitamin D - Sept 17, 2020
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Many clinical trials are underway which are testing Vitamin D to fight COVID-19
See also web
- Having a vitamin D deficiency could make you more likely to catch Covid-19, another study claims reporting on this study
- COVID-19 Serology Testing Explained May 2020