Low levels of vitamin D are linked to an increased risk of long-COVID, Italian researchers will tell conference delegates today.
The findings from the research being presented at the 25th European Congress of Endocrinology, Istanbul, Turkey, suggest that individuals should have their vitamin D levels checked if they have had COVID-19.
Although one risk factor for worse outcomes for hospitalised COVID-19 patients, such as intubation and mechanical ventilation or death, is low vitamin D levels, but its role in long-COVID has not been adequately investigated.
For this study, which was published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, researchers from the Vita-Salute San Raffaele University and IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, examined 100 patients aged 51-70 years, with and without long-COVID.
Their vitamin D levels were measured when they were first hospitalised with COVID-19 and six months after being discharged, and the research team found that patients with long-COVID had lower vitamin D levels compared with those without.
This was particularly evident in patients who experienced confusion, forgetfulness and poor concentration, at the six-month follow-up.
Lead investigator Professor Andrea Giustina said: “The highly controlled nature of our study helps us better understand the role of vitamin D deficiency in long-COVID and establish that there is likely a link between vitamin D deficiency and long-COVID.”
Prof Giustina has called for larger studies to confirm this link, but he and his team are looking at whether or not vitamin D supplements can reduce the risk of long-COVID.
“Our study shows that COVID-19 patients with low vitamin D levels are more likely to develop long-COVID but it is not yet known whether vitamin D supplements could improve the symptoms or reduce this risk altogether,” he added.
Low 25(OH) vitamin D levels are associated with Long COVID syndrome in COVID-19 survivors is a poster presentation at the European Congress of Endocrinology at the Halic Congress Center in Istanbul, Turkey.
Di Filippo L, Frara S, Nannipieri F et al. Low vitamin D levels are associated with Long COVID syndrome in COVID-19 survivors. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism April 2023; doi: 10.1210/clinem/dgad207
Leave a Reply