A recent analysis utilizing data from the UK Biobank revealed that vitamin D deficiency is linked to a higher risk of COVID-19 hospitalization, though there is only a weak association with the risk of infection.
Monroy-Iglesias et al. The nested case-control study was based on individuals with serum vitamin D level measurements in Baseline (2006-2010) within the Biobank Cohort, documenting COVID-19 PCR results and prior cancer diagnoses.
The widespread impact of COVID-19 on healthcare services has sparked considerable research interest aimed at understanding the potential pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the disease.
At the onset of the pandemic, numerous studies were conducted to examine various risk factors influencing rates of COVID-19 infection, severity, and mortality.
Factors that have consistently emerged include age, male sex, smoking status, obesity, specific ethnic backgrounds, and immune system compromise, which all contribute to severe disease and a heightened likelihood of mortality.
Vitamin D is essential for regulating both innate and adaptive immune responses.
Deficiency in vitamin D has been linked to a higher susceptibility to respiratory infections and is considered a risk factor for the development of severe, persistent inflammation, which may precede acute respiratory distress syndrome.
Consequently, several investigations have focused on the correlation between vitamin D levels and the risk of COVID-19 from the beginning of the pandemic.
Emerging evidence suggests a connection between vitamin D deficiency and both the likelihood of COVID-19 infection and the severity of the disease.
“Our goal was to utilize UK Biobank data to explore the relationship between vitamin D levels and the risks of both COVID-19 infection and hospitalization,” stated Dr. Maria Monroy Iglesias of King’s College London.
“We also assessed these associations across the general population, a subset of cancer patients, and examined potential differences related to ethnicity.”
The authors analyzed data from over 150,000 participants in the UK Biobank to ascertain whether the risk of COVID-19 was elevated among those with vitamin D deficiency (<25 nmol/L in blood) and vitamin D insufficiency (25-49 nmol/L).
Additionally, they compared hospitalization risks due to COVID-19 across these three groups.
“These findings can help identify at-risk individuals and inform future public health guidance,” noted Dr. Kerri Beckmann, a researcher with the University of South Australia.
“Given vitamin D’s important role in immune regulation, it is possible that low levels may influence responses to infections like COVID-19.”
“Our study indicated that individuals with vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency had a higher likelihood of being hospitalized due to COVID-19 compared to those with adequate vitamin D levels; however, they were not necessarily more prone to contracting the virus in the first place.”
The research team also explored the association between vitamin D and COVID-19 outcomes among cancer patients across different ethnic backgrounds.
It was found that individuals of Asian or African/Afro-Caribbean descent had a marginally increased risk of infection at lower vitamin D levels, while the link between vitamin D and severe illness was predominantly observed in individuals of white backgrounds.
Although no significant correlation was detected between vitamin D levels and COVID-19 outcomes among individuals previously diagnosed with cancer, researchers cautioned that this may stem from smaller sample sizes.
“While the overall risk of COVID-19 has diminished over time, the virus continues to pose a public health challenge,” Dr. Beckmann remarked.
“COVID-19 may not be the threat it once was, but it continues to impact individuals’ well-being.”
“Understanding which populations are most vulnerable enables those individuals to take necessary precautions, such as keeping track of their vitamin D levels.”
“Individuals already in poor health may naturally have lower levels of vitamin D.”
“As such, it’s still unclear whether vitamin D supplementation can mitigate the severity of COVID-19.
“This remains a topic worthy of further investigation, especially as we adapt to living with the virus.”
Survey results will be published online in the journal PLOS 1.
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MJ Monroy-Iglesias et al. 2025. The effects of vitamin D on COVID-19 risks and hospitalizations in the UK Biobank. PLOS 1 20(7): E0328232; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0328232
Source: www.sci.news
