scholarly journals Short Communication: Vitamin D and COVID-19 infection and mortality in UK Biobank

Author(s):  
Claire E Hastie ◽  
Jill P Pell ◽  
Naveed Sattar

AbstractPurposeVitamin D has been proposed as a potential causal factor in COVID-19 risk. We aimed to establish whether blood 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentration was associated with COVID-19 mortality, and inpatient confirmed COVID-19 infection, in UK Biobank participants.MethodsUK Biobank recruited 502,624 participants aged 37-73 years between 2006 and 2010. Baseline exposure data, including 25(OH)D concentration, were linked to COVID-19 mortality. Univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were performed for the association between 25(OH)D and COVID-19 death, and poisson regression analyses for the association between 25(OH)D and severe COVID-19 infection.ResultsComplete data were available for 341,484 UK Biobank participants, of which 656 had inpatient confirmed COVID-19 infection and 203 died of COVID-19 infection. Vitamin D was associated with severe COVID-19 infection and mortality univariably (mortality HR=0.99; 95% CI 0.98-0.998; p=0.016), but not after adjustment for confounders (mortality HR=0.998; 95% CI=0.99-1.01; p=0.696).ConclusionsOur findings do not support a potential link between vitamin D concentrations and risk of severe COVID-19 infection and mortality. Recommendations for vitamin D supplementation to lessen COVID-19 risks may provide false reassurance.

Author(s):  
Mariam El-Zein ◽  
Farzin Khosrow-Khavar ◽  
Ann N Burchell ◽  
Pierre-Paul Tellier ◽  
Shaun Eintracht ◽  
...  

Abstract Background We assessed the association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and genital human papillomavirus (HPV) prevalence, incidence, and clearance among female participants of the HITCH cohort study. Methods We genotyped HPV DNA in vaginal samples and quantified baseline serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels using Roche’s Linear Array and Total vitamin D assay, respectively. We used logistic and Cox proportional hazards models to respectively estimate adjusted odds ratios (OR) and hazards ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results There was no association between vitamin D levels (every 10ng/mL increase) at baseline and HPV prevalence (OR=0.88, CI:0.73-1.03) or incidence (HR=0.88, CI:0.73-1.06), but we observed a modest negative association with HPV clearance (HR=0.76, CI:0.60-0.96). Vitamin D levels <30ng/mL, compared to ≥30ng/mL, were not associated with HPV prevalence (OR=0.98, CI:0.57-1.69) or incidence (HR=0.87, CI:0.50-1.43), but were associated with a marginally significant increased clearance (OR=2.14, CI:0.99-4.64). We observed consistent results with restricted cubic spline modelling of vitamin D levels and clinically defined categories. HPV type-specific analyses accounting for multiple HPV infections per participant showed no association between vitamin D levels and all study outcomes. Conclusion This study provided no evidence of an association between low vitamin D levels and increased HPV prevalence, acquisition, or clearance.


Stroke ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 46 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastian K Khoo ◽  
Jayne Y Tan ◽  
Leonard Y Yeo ◽  
Prakash Paliwal ◽  
Hock L Teoh ◽  
...  

Introduction: Vitamin D deficiency has been implicated in vascular dysfunction and the risk of recurrent vascular events. Previous studies, limited by a small sample size and lack of comparisons with long-term events, have yielded discordant results. To assess the hypothesis that low vitamin D levels predict long-term vascular events in patients with ischemic stroke, we conducted a large hospital-based study to compare the association between baseline vitamin D levels and the subsequent risk of vascular events. Methods: Between January 2010 and July 2011, 590 participants (mean age, 60.7 years; 69% men) diagnosed with ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attack at the National University Hospital, Singapore, were prospectively followed for vascular events (recurrent stroke, myocardial infarction and vascular death). Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were determined using the Roche Cobas e411 analyzer. Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess the associations between quartiles of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and the risk of vascular events, which were adjusted for demographic, stroke severity and subtype, and vascular risk factor covariates. Results: During a mean follow-up of 3.2 years (1,190 person-year), 116 participants developed a recurrent vascular event (recurrent stroke, n=63; myocardial infarction, n=30; vascular death, n=23). Using Cox proportional hazards models, the multivariate adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence interval) for recurrent vascular events in participants with lower levels of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (<14.9 mmol/l, 14.9-21.4 mmol/l and 21.5-28.9 mmol/l) were 1.43 (0.81-2.55), 1.70 (0.97-2.91) and 2.09 (1.22-3.58) compared to participants with higher concentrations (>28.9 mmol/l). Kaplan-Meier plots for unadjusted rates of vascular events show clear differences in risk by quartiles of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D after a year of follow-up. Conclusions: Our results support the association between vitamin D deficiency and increased risk of recurrent vascular events in patients with ischemic stroke. Clinical trials are needed to ascertain whether correcting for this deficiency could indeed reduce the burden of vascular events in these individuals.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Naomi Vather-Wu ◽  
Matthew D. Krasowski ◽  
Katherine D. Mathews ◽  
Amal Shibli-Rahhal

Background: Expert guidelines recommend annual monitoring of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) and maintaining 25-OHD ≥30 ng/ml in patients with dystrophinopathies. Objective: We hypothesized that 25-OHD remains stable and requires less frequent monitoring in patients taking stable maintenance doses of vitamin D. Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study, using the electronic health record to identify 26 patients with dystrophinopathies with a baseline 25-OHD ≥30 ng/mL and at least one additional 25-OHD measurement. These patients had received a stable dose of vitamin D for ≥3 months prior to their baseline 25-OHD measurement and throughout follow-up. The main outcome measured was the mean duration time the subjects spent with a 25-OHD ≥30 ng/mL. Results: Only 19% of patients dropped their 25-OHD to <  30 ng/ml, with a mean time to drop of 33 months and a median nadir 25-OHD of 28 ng/mL. Conclusions: These results suggest that measurement of 25-OHD every 2–2.5 years may be sufficient in patients with a baseline 25-OHD ≥30 ng/mL and who are on a stable maintenance dose of vitamin D. Other patients may require more frequent assessments.


Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 2443
Author(s):  
Wojciech Stefan Zgliczyński ◽  
Olga Maria Rostkowska ◽  
Beata Sarecka-Hujar

Background Vitamin D deficiency occurs in as much as 90–95% of the Polish population, although this condition is known to cause negative long-term health implications. The role of medical doctors in advising proper supplementation, monitoring and correcting the levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in individuals is of great importance and should be used to help mitigate its common deficits. The aim of this study was to evaluate knowledge, attitudes and practices of Polish physicians regarding vitamin D supplementation in order to identify areas for improvement and determinants for the knowledge gaps. Methods The study group comprised 701 medical doctors aged 32.1 ± 5.3 years on average, mostly women (71.61%). An original survey questionnaire was developed for the purpose of the study. Results The mean vitamin D knowledge score was 6.8 ± 2.3 (in a scale 0–13) and was related to gender (p < 0.001), type of specialization (p = 0.032), D3 supplements use (p < 0.001), recommending supplementation to patients (p = 0.005), to relatives and friends (p < 0.001) and to healthy adults (p < 0.001). In terms of self-administration, 14% of respondents take vitamin D all-year-round while 24% only in autumn and winter. 25% of respondents monitor their vitamin D (25-hydroxyvitamin D) serum concentration. Most participants (61%) did not recommend supplementing vitamin D to their patients on a regular basis. Conclusions The study indicates that medical doctors in Poland need to have more training and education on vitamin D supplementation in order to better address the problem of its deficits in the population.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yiyang Yue ◽  
Jordan Creed ◽  
David Cote ◽  
Meir Stampfer ◽  
Molin Wang ◽  
...  

Abstract Few prospective studies have evaluated the relation between fat-soluble vitamins and glioma risk. Using three cohorts—UK Biobank (UKB), Nurses’ Health Study (NHS), and Health Professionals Follow-Up Study (HPFS), we investigated associations of pre-diagnostic concentrations of fat-soluble vitamins D, A, and E with incident glioma. In 346,785 participants (444 cases) in UKB, associations with vitamin D (25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D]) were evaluated by Cox proportional hazards regression. In NHS (52 cases, 104 controls) and HPFS (32 cases, 64 controls), associations with 25(OH)D, vitamin A (retinol), and vitamin E (α- and γ-tocopherol) were assessed using conditional logistic regression. Our results suggested plasma concentrations of 25(OH)D and retinol were not associated with glioma risk. Comparing the highest to lowest tertile, the multivariable hazard ratio (MVHR) for 25(OH)D was 0.87 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.68-1.11) in UKB and the multivariable risk ratio (MVRR) was 1.08 (95%CI: 0.55-2.09) in NHS and HPFS. In NHS and HPFS, the MVRR for the same comparison for retinol was 1.16 (95%CI: 0.56-2.38). Nonsignificant associations were observed for α-tocopherol (MVRRtertile3vs1=0.61, 95%CI: 0.29-1.32) and γ-tocopherol (MVRR tertile3vs1=1.30, 95%CI: 0.63-2.69) that became stronger in 4-year lagged analyses. Further investigation is warranted on a potential association between α- and γ-tocopherol and glioma risk.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shenglan Huang ◽  
Dan Li ◽  
LingLing Zhuang ◽  
Liying Sun ◽  
Jianbing Wu

The actin-related protein 2/3 complex (Arp2/3) is a major actin nucleator that has been widely reported and plays an important role in promoting the migration and invasion of various cancers. However, the expression patterns and prognostic values of Arp2/3 subunits in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain unclear. In this study, The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and UCSC Xena databases were used to obtain mRNA expression and the corresponding clinical information, respectively. The differential expression and Arp2/3 subunits in HCC were analyzed using the “limma” package of R 4.0.4 software. The prognostic value of each subunit was evaluated using Kaplan–Meier survival analysis and Cox proportional hazards regression analyses. The results revealed that mRNA expression of Arp2/3 members (ACTR2, ACTR3, ARPC1A, APRC1B, ARPC2, ARPC3, ARPC4, ARPC5, and ARPC5L) was upregulated in HCC. Higher expression of Arp2/3 members was significantly correlated with worse overall survival (OS) and shorter progression-free survival (PFS) in HCC patients. Cox proportional hazards regression analyses demonstrated that ACTR3, ARPC2, and ARPC5 were independent prognostic biomarkers of survival in patients with HCC. The relation between tumor immunocyte infiltration and the prognostic subunits was determined using the TIMER 2.0 platform and the GEPIA database. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was performed to explore the potential mechanisms of prognostic subunits in the carcinogenesis of HCC. The results revealed that ACTR3, ARPC2, and ARPC5 were significantly positively correlated with the infiltration of immune cells in HCC. The GSEA results indicated that ACTR3, ARPC2, and ARPC5 are involved in multiple cancer-related pathways that promote the development of HCC. In brief, various analyses indicated that Arp2/3 complex subunits were significantly upregulated and predicted worse survival in HCC, and they found that ACTR3, ARPC2, and ARPC5 could be used as independent predictors of survival and might be applied as promising molecular targets for diagnosis and therapy of HCC in the future.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Naowanit Nata ◽  
Jessada Kanchanasinitth ◽  
Pamila Tasanavipas ◽  
Ouppatham Supasyndh ◽  
Bancha Satirapoj

Background. Vitamin D deficiency is a common problem among patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Vitamin D supplementation leads to reduced serum parathyroid hormone levels and improved cardiovascular markers. Different doses and time intervals of oral vitamin D supplementation may differ in each patient on dialysis. The study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of weekly split and single dose of ergocalciferol at 60,000 IU on serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) among patients on CAPD. Methods. A randomized study was conducted among patients on CAPD with vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency (25(OH)D < 30 ng/mL). Patients were randomly assigned to two groups: the split dose group was given ergocalciferol 20,000 IU three times weekly and the single dose group was given ergocalciferol 60,000 IU once weekly for 8 weeks. Main outcomes measured serum 25(OH)D concentrations, serum calcium, serum phosphate, and intact parathyroid levels at 8 weeks after being enrolled. Results. Of 128 screened patients, 50 met the criteria for eligibility and were randomized. At 8 weeks after treatment, mean serum 25(OH)D concentrations significantly increased from baseline 22.7 ± 5.9 to 29.5 ± 9.5 ng/mL P = 0.004 in the split dose group and 22.9 ± 5.3 to 31.2 ± 12.3 ng/mL P = 0.003 in the single dose group. No significant change was found in increase of serum 25(OH)D between the two groups P = 0.561 . At the end of study, a similar proportion of patients in both groups reached the desirable serum concentration of 25(OH)D ≥ 30 ng/mL (60% in the single group vs. 40% in the split group, P = 0.258 ). No significant cases of hypercalcemia, hyperphosphatemia, or serious adverse events occurred during the study. Conclusion. Weekly single and split doses of ergocalciferol 60,000 IU achieved similar effects on serum 25(OH)D levels among patients on CAPD with vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency, suggesting that weekly single dose would be prescribed for adequate vitamin D repletion. This trial is registered with TCTR20200821005.


2015 ◽  
Vol 18 (02) ◽  
pp. 1550008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Negin Masoudi Alavi ◽  
Mahla Madani ◽  
Mohsen Taghizadeh ◽  
Mohammad Reza Sharif

Purpose: To investigate the effect of weekly single high dose vitamin D supplementation on serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], and non-specific musculoskeletal pain in female nurses. Methods: In this prospective study in Kashan/Iran, from April 1, 2014, through September 30, 2014, the 150 nurses with vitamin D deficiency received the weekly pearls of 50,000 units of vitamin D3 for 10 weeks. The serum level of 25(OH)D was measured before and after supplement therapy. The subjects were also asked to complete the Extended Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire. All analyses were conducted with SPSS version 16. Results: After 10 weeks of intervention there was [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]ng/mL increase in 25(OH)D. The 82 nurses (54.7%) had 25(OH)D in normal range, while the 68 nurses (45.3%) were still vitamin D deficient. Weight could explain 15.4% increase in 25(OH)D. Before intervention 135 (90%), of nurses reported musculoskeletal pain in at least one region, after intervention this number decreased to 72.7%. There was a statistically significant improvement in musculoskeletal pain in neck, shoulders, upper back, lower back, hips/tights, knees, and ankles/feet after intervention. Conclusions: The weekly single high dose of vitamin D for 10 weeks could resolve vitamin D deficiency in about half of the patients. Patients with non-specific musculoskeletal pain might benefit from vitamin D supplementation.


2013 ◽  
Vol 53 (2) ◽  
pp. 367-374 ◽  
Author(s):  
Armin Zittermann ◽  
Jana B. Ernst ◽  
Jan F. Gummert ◽  
Jochen Börgermann

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