Association between 25(OH)D levels and clinical outcomes in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2: a cross-sectional study

Abstract 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 lo...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Aleksandra Starosz, Anna Parfieniuk-Kowerda, Diana Martonik, Anna Moniuszko-Malinowska, Sławomir Pancewicz, Robert Flisiak, Marcin Moniuszko, Kamil Grubczak
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-08621-y
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849399729808474112
author Aleksandra Starosz
Anna Parfieniuk-Kowerda
Diana Martonik
Anna Moniuszko-Malinowska
Sławomir Pancewicz
Robert Flisiak
Marcin Moniuszko
Kamil Grubczak
author_facet Aleksandra Starosz
Anna Parfieniuk-Kowerda
Diana Martonik
Anna Moniuszko-Malinowska
Sławomir Pancewicz
Robert Flisiak
Marcin Moniuszko
Kamil Grubczak
author_sort Aleksandra Starosz
collection DOAJ
description Abstract 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.
format Article
id doaj-art-ec3d68baf2924150919ddaf930afd2ea
institution Kabale University
issn 2045-2322
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Scientific Reports
spelling doaj-art-ec3d68baf2924150919ddaf930afd2ea2025-08-20T03:38:15ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111210.1038/s41598-025-08621-yAssociation between 25(OH)D levels and clinical outcomes in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2: a cross-sectional studyAleksandra Starosz0Anna Parfieniuk-Kowerda1Diana Martonik2Anna Moniuszko-Malinowska3Sławomir Pancewicz4Robert Flisiak5Marcin Moniuszko6Kamil Grubczak7Department of Regenerative Medicine and Immune Regulation, Medical University of BialystokDepartment of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Medical University of BialystokDepartment of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Medical University of BialystokDepartment of Infectious Diseases and Neuroinfection, Medical University of BialystokDepartment of Infectious Diseases and Neuroinfection, Medical University of BialystokDepartment of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Medical University of BialystokDepartment of Regenerative Medicine and Immune Regulation, Medical University of BialystokDepartment of Regenerative Medicine and Immune Regulation, Medical University of BialystokAbstract 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.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-08621-ySARS-CoV-225-hydroxyvitamin DVitamin D deficiencyCOVID-19ORF1ab
spellingShingle Aleksandra Starosz
Anna Parfieniuk-Kowerda
Diana Martonik
Anna Moniuszko-Malinowska
Sławomir Pancewicz
Robert Flisiak
Marcin Moniuszko
Kamil Grubczak
Association between 25(OH)D levels and clinical outcomes in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2: a cross-sectional study
Scientific Reports
SARS-CoV-2
25-hydroxyvitamin D
Vitamin D deficiency
COVID-19
ORF1ab
title Association between 25(OH)D levels and clinical outcomes in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2: a cross-sectional study
title_full Association between 25(OH)D levels and clinical outcomes in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2: a cross-sectional study
title_fullStr Association between 25(OH)D levels and clinical outcomes in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2: a cross-sectional study
title_full_unstemmed Association between 25(OH)D levels and clinical outcomes in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2: a cross-sectional study
title_short Association between 25(OH)D levels and clinical outcomes in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2: a cross-sectional study
title_sort association between 25 oh d levels and clinical outcomes in patients infected with sars cov 2 a cross sectional study
topic SARS-CoV-2
25-hydroxyvitamin D
Vitamin D deficiency
COVID-19
ORF1ab
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-08621-y
work_keys_str_mv AT aleksandrastarosz associationbetween25ohdlevelsandclinicaloutcomesinpatientsinfectedwithsarscov2acrosssectionalstudy
AT annaparfieniukkowerda associationbetween25ohdlevelsandclinicaloutcomesinpatientsinfectedwithsarscov2acrosssectionalstudy
AT dianamartonik associationbetween25ohdlevelsandclinicaloutcomesinpatientsinfectedwithsarscov2acrosssectionalstudy
AT annamoniuszkomalinowska associationbetween25ohdlevelsandclinicaloutcomesinpatientsinfectedwithsarscov2acrosssectionalstudy
AT sławomirpancewicz associationbetween25ohdlevelsandclinicaloutcomesinpatientsinfectedwithsarscov2acrosssectionalstudy
AT robertflisiak associationbetween25ohdlevelsandclinicaloutcomesinpatientsinfectedwithsarscov2acrosssectionalstudy
AT marcinmoniuszko associationbetween25ohdlevelsandclinicaloutcomesinpatientsinfectedwithsarscov2acrosssectionalstudy
AT kamilgrubczak associationbetween25ohdlevelsandclinicaloutcomesinpatientsinfectedwithsarscov2acrosssectionalstudy