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J Pediatr Infect Dis 2022; 17(06): 275-281
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1756442
Original Article

Serum Vitamins A, D, and Zinc Levels in Children with Coronavirus Disease 2019 and Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children

Aslı İmran Yilmaz 
1   Meram Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatric Pulmonology, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey
,
Gökçen Ünal 
1   Meram Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatric Pulmonology, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey
,
Sevgi Keleş 
2   Department of Pediatric Allergy Immunology, University of Necmettin Erbakan, Meram School of Medicine, Konya, Turkey
,
Sevgi Pekcan 
1   Meram Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatric Pulmonology, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey
,
Ahmet Osman Kiliç 
3   Meram Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey
,
Özge Metin Akcan 
4   Meram Faculty of Medicine, Department of Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey
,
Kubra Nur Erdoğan 
3   Meram Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey
,
Hüseyin Safa Özdemir 
3   Meram Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey
,
Ibrahim Kilinç 
5   Meram Faculty of Medicine Department of Biochemistry, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey
,
Mehmet Özdemir
6   Meram Faculty of Medicine Department of Medical Microbiology, Necmettin Erbakan University, Turkey
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Abstract

Objective Vitamin D, due to its immunomodulating effect, zinc, and vitamin A, which affect cellular and humoral immunity, are thought to affect the clinical severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. The present study evaluates the association between vitamin A, D, and zinc deficiencies and disease severity in pediatric patients with COVID-19 infections.

Methods The levels of vitamin A, D, and zinc at the time of diagnosis of 123 pediatric patients who presented to our hospital and were diagnosed as having hospitalized, nonhospitalized COVID-19 infection group, and multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) were evaluated. The correlations of the measured levels with the disease severity and the need for intensive care or hospitalization were analyzed.

Results Among the 123 patients, 21.1% (n = 26), 42.2% (n = 52), and 36.7% (n = 45) had a diagnosis of MIS-C, belonged to the hospitalized COVID-19 infection group, or belonged to the nonhospitalized COVID-19 infection group, respectively. Zinc levels were significantly lower in the MIS-C group than in the nonhospitalized group (p < 0.05). Vitamin A levels were found to be significantly lower in the MIS-C group than in the nonhospitalized group (p < 0.01) and significantly lower in the hospitalized group when compared with the nonhospitalized group (p < 0.001). Deficiencies in vitamin A, vitamin D, and zinc levels were found to be most common in the MIS-C group (42.3%) and in hospitalized COVID-19 group (15.3%). In the nonhospitalized COVID-19 group, it was found to be the lowest at 6.6%.

Conclusion Based on the results of the present study and a literature review, it can be said that vitamin A, D, and zinc deficiencies may associate with the severity of COVID-19, although more studies are required to clarify this subject further.

Keywords

COVID-19 - pandemic - vitamin D - vitamin A - zinc

Ethical Approval

Approval from the ethics board of the university was obtained for the study (Decision Number: 2021/3270).




Publication History

Received: 08 April 2022

Accepted: 05 August 2022

Article published online:
16 September 2022

© 2022. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
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