Studies show Vitamin D levels influence COVID-19 severity for a particular ethnic group

Having low levels of vitamin D may increase the risk of hospitalisation with COVID-19, Australian and UK scientists have reported.

The findings followed an observational study of the health records for 151,543 people in the UK.

Sunlight is the primary natural source of Vitamin D for humans.

Whist low vitamin D increased the risk of hospitalisation among white patients, it didn’t so among Black or Asian patients.

The study authors, from the University of South Australia and King’s College London, said Vitamin D plays an important role in immune modulation and deficiency is associated with increased susceptibility to acute respiratory syndrome as observed in COVID-19.

They reported that black and Asian populations with low vitamin D levels were at a higher risk of catching COVID-19, but this did not translate to increased hospitalisation.

Vitamin D and ethnicity may independently influence COVID-19 outcomes, rather than interacting to affect risks, the authors concluded.