AUTHOR=Chadda Karan R. , Roberts Sophie A. , Lugg Sebastian T. , Faniyi Aduragbemi A. , Faustini Sian E. , Webster Craig , Duffy Joanne E. , Hewison Martin , Shields Adrian , Richter Alex G. , Parekh Dhruv , Scott Aaron , Thickett David R. 

TITLE=Vitamin D deficiency and duration of COVID-19 symptoms in UK healthcare workers

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Medicine

VOLUME=Volume 11 - 2024

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2024.1494129

DOI=10.3389/fmed.2024.1494129

ISSN=2296-858X

ABSTRACT=Objectives
Vitamin D has a role in the innate immunity against pathogens and is also involved in mechanisms for reducing inflammation. VD deficiency (VDD) may increase COVID-19 infection susceptibility, however research is limited on the association between VDD and COVID-19 symptom prevalence and duration. The study aimed to determine whether VDD is a risk factor for the presence and extended duration of COVID-19 symptoms. 

Methods 
Data was analysed from NHS healthcare workers who isolated due to COVID-19 symptoms as a part of the COVID-19 convalescent immunity study between 12th to 22nd May 2020. Participants self-reported the presence and duration of viral symptoms. Anti-SARS-Cov-2 antibodies and vitamin D (25(OH)D3) serum levels were measured on day of recruitment. VDD was defined as 25(OH)D3 levels of <30 nmol/l. 

Results
Of the 392 participants, 15.6% (n=61) had VDD. VDD participants had more symptoms overall (p=0.0030), including body aches (p=0.0453), and extended duration of body aches (p=0.0075) and fatigue (p=0.0127). Binary logistic regression found that both VDD (OR 3.069, 95%CI 1.538-6.124; p=0.001) and age (OR 1.026, 95%CI 1.003-1.049; p=0.025) were independently associated with extended durations of body aches. VDD (OR 2.089, 95%CI 1.087-4.011; p=0.027), age (OR 1.036, 95%CI 1.016-1.057; p<0.001) and seroconversion (OR 1.917, 95%CI 1.203-3.056; p=0.006), were independently associated with extended durations of fatigue.

Conclusion
VDD is a significant independent risk factor for extended durations of body aches and fatigue in healthcare workers who isolated for COVID-19 viral symptoms. Vitamin D supplementation may reduce symptom duration and is thus an area for future research.