Starosz Aleksandra, Parfieniuk-Kowerda Anna, Martonik Diana, Moniuszko-Malinowska Anna, Pancewicz Sławomir, Flisiak Robert, Moniuszko Marcin, Grubczak Kamil
Department of Regenerative Medicine and Immune Regulation, Medical University of Bialystok, Jerzego Waszyngtona 13, 15-269, Bialystok, Poland.
Department of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Medical University of Bialystok, Zurawia 14, 15-540, Bialystok, Poland.
Sci Rep. 2025 Jul 4;15(1):23986. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-08621-y.
SARS-CoV-2 is an RNA virus that caused one of the most significant pandemics in the modern world. Although vaccination and treatment options have advanced, understanding host-related factors influencing disease severity remains critical, especially in the context of emerging variants and long-term complications. Since the beginning, numerous research studies have been conducted to better understand the mechanisms contributing to the severe onset of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Immunomodulatory properties of vitamin D are known for their positive impact on multiple conditions. Nevertheless, clinical trials suggested that vitamin D deficiency did not have as substantial a role as expected in conditions including asthma, cardiovascular or autoimmune diseases, and cancer. Moreover, low vitamin D levels could result from the ongoing inflammatory process. In this cross-sectional study, we assessed the level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in hospitalized SARS-CoV-2-infected patients using immunoenzymatic tests (ELISA). Furthermore, the expression of the ORF1ab gene was detected, and the obtained results were correlated with laboratory parameters to establish their potential impact on the course of the disease. Severe 25(OH)D deficiency was found in subjects with active SARS-CoV-2 infection. We showed a significant relationship between 25(OH)D and extended hospitalization time. No link was demonstrated between vitamin D levels and clinical manifestations. Lower 25(OH)D values were associated with lower values of leukocytes, neutrophils and ferritin. In summary, our findings highlight the relevance of vitamin D status as a potential modulator of immune response and disease course in SARS-CoV-2 infection, underscoring the importance of continued investigation into host nutritional and inflammatory profiles during COVID-19.
严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒2(SARS-CoV-2)是一种RNA病毒,它引发了现代世界最严重的大流行之一。尽管疫苗接种和治疗方法有了进展,但了解影响疾病严重程度的宿主相关因素仍然至关重要,尤其是在出现新变种和长期并发症的情况下。从一开始,就进行了大量研究,以更好地了解导致SARS-CoV-2感染严重发病的机制。维生素D的免疫调节特性因其对多种病症的积极影响而闻名。然而,临床试验表明,维生素D缺乏在哮喘、心血管疾病、自身免疫性疾病和癌症等病症中并没有发挥预期的重要作用。此外,持续的炎症过程可能导致维生素D水平降低。在这项横断面研究中,我们使用免疫酶试验(ELISA)评估了住院的SARS-CoV-2感染患者的25-羟基维生素D水平。此外,检测了ORF1ab基因的表达,并将获得的结果与实验室参数相关联,以确定它们对疾病进程的潜在影响。在活动性SARS-CoV-2感染的受试者中发现了严重的25(OH)D缺乏。我们发现25(OH)D与延长的住院时间之间存在显著关系。维生素D水平与临床表现之间未显示出关联。较低的25(OH)D值与白细胞、中性粒细胞和铁蛋白的较低值相关。总之,我们的研究结果突出了维生素D状态作为SARS-CoV-2感染中免疫反应和疾病进程潜在调节因子的相关性,强调了在2019冠状病毒病期间继续研究宿主营养和炎症特征的重要性。