SYSTEMATIC REVIEW article
Front. Pediatr.
Sec. Children and Health
Volume 13 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fped.2025.1436633
Vitamin D status and COVID-19 infection Vitamin D status and COVID-19 infection Vitamin D status in children with mild, moderate, or severe confirmed COVID-19: Systematic-review and Meta-analysis
Provisionally accepted
- Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
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In the present study, we decided to assess 25 hydroxy (OH) vitamin D status in children with mild, moderate, or severe confirmed COVID-19 and also compare them with those of a healthy control group using existing data.Relevant studies were extracted using online international databases. Heterogeneity between the results of primary studies was evaluated with the Isquare index. Egger's test, funnel plot, and sensitivity analysis were applied. The statistical analysis was done using Stata version 17.In 12 documents, the status of vitamin D was examined between case and control groups.By combining the results of these studies using random effect model, the standardized mean difference (SMD) vitamin D level in the COVID-19 children compared to the control group was estimated to be -0.88 (98% CI: -1.24, -0.51), which was statistically significant. In the present study, the odd ratio of vitamin D deficiency and vitamin D disorder (insufficiency and deficiency) in children with moderate COVID-19 compared to asymptomatic children with COVID-19 were estimated to be 3.58 (1.10, 11.63) and 2.52 (0.99, 6.41) respectively which was higher than in asymptomatic children with COVID-19. In addition, vitamin D deficiency and vitamin D disorder in children with moderate COVID-19 compared to the children with mild COVID-19 were estimated to be 2.12 (0.90, 4.98) and 1.82 (0.78, 4.22) respectively, which was higher than in children with mild COVID-19. Also, vitamin D deficiency and vitamin D disorder in children with mild COVID-19 compared to asymptomatic children with COVID-19 were estimated to be 2.02 (0.60, 6.78) and 1.64 (0.53, 5.07) respectively, which was higher than in asymptomatic children children with mild COVID-19.Combining the results of these studies, the effect size of the relationship between vitamin D and COVID-19 in children is significant. During the COVID-19 pandemic (except for the Omicron peak), children were less affected by the severity of COVID-19.The standardized mean difference (SMD) vitamin D level in children with COVID-19 was significantly 0.88 units lower than the control group. Also, the odds ratio of moderate COVID-19 in children with vitamin D deficiency was significantly 3.58 times higher than in asymptomatic children with COVID-19.
Keywords: Vitamin D, Children, COVID-19, SARS CoV-2, Pneumonia
Received: 22 May 2024; Accepted: 22 Apr 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Mousavi and Moosazadeh. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Tahoora Mousavi, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
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