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Vitamin D concentration, body mass index, ethnicity and SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19: initial analysis of the first- reported UK Biobank Cohort positive cases (n 1474) compared with negative controls (n 4643)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 April 2021

A.L. Darling ,
K. R. Ahmadi ,
K.A. Ward ,
N.C. Harvey ,
A. Couto Alves ,
D. K. Dunn-Walters ,
S.A. Lanham-New ,
C. Cooper  and
D.J. Blackbourn
A.L. Darling
Affiliation:
School of Biosciences and Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford. GU2 7XH
K. R. Ahmadi
Affiliation:
School of Biosciences and Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford. GU2 7XH
K.A. Ward
Affiliation:
MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ
N.C. Harvey
Affiliation:
NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, SO16 6YD
A. Couto Alves
Affiliation:
School of Biosciences and Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford. GU2 7XH
D. K. Dunn-Walters
Affiliation:
School of Biosciences and Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford. GU2 7XH
S.A. Lanham-New
Affiliation:
School of Biosciences and Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford. GU2 7XH
C. Cooper
Affiliation:
NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX4 2PG
D.J. Blackbourn
Affiliation:
School of Biosciences and Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford. GU2 7XH
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Proceedings of the Nutrition Society , Volume 80 , Issue OCE1: Winter Conference Live 2020, 8–9 December 2020, Micronutrient malnutrition across the life course, sarcopenia and frailty , 2021 , E17
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Copyright © The Authors 2021

There is an urgent need to assess risk factors affecting individual likelihood of contracting the novel SARS-CoV-2 virus, and development of COVID-19. One potential risk factor is vitamin D deficiency(Reference Lanham-New1). Vitamin D is important for immune defence against pathogens as it promotes macrophage antimicrobial responses and the regulation of antigen-presenting dendritic cells and suppressor T-cells(Reference Hewison2). However, it is unclear whether 25(OH)D concentration is associated with risk of contracting SARS-CoV-2 and/or developing COVID-19.

We aimed to assess whether there is an association between serum 25(OH)D status and odds of testing positive for SARS-CoV-2, when controlling for confounders such as body mass index (BMI) and ethnicity.

We used data from the UK Biobank, including n 1474 SARS-CoV-2 positive cases and n 4643 SARS-CoV-2 negative controls. The UK Biobank study was originally approved by the UK North West Multi-Centre Research Ethics Committee (MREC); application 11/NW/0382, with written informed consent obtained from subjects.

Results are presented as median (interquartile range; IQR). Statistical significance was assessed by Mann-Whitney Test. Age (years) was 58.0 (18) in cases and in 60.0 (15) in controls (P = 0.002). Serum 25(OH)D status was almost identical in cases (43.3 (31.0) nmol/L) and controls (44.5 (30.4) nmol/L) (P = 0.34). Serum 25(OH)D status was lower in those with obesity (39.4 (28.7) nmol/L) compared with those under or normal weight (48.0 (32.2) nmol/L) (P < 0.001). Also, 25(OH)D concentration was lower in those of Asian, Black and Mixed ethnicity (29.1 (21.8) nmol/l) compared with White ethnicity (45.6 (30.2) nmol/L) (P < 0.001).

Logistic regression model results (n 5303) are presented as odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval. Variables were entered as one block so all estimates are confounder adjusted. Serum 25(OH)D concentration (<=50nmol/L vs

>50nmol/L) was not associated with odds of testing positive (1.03, 0.90 to 1.18). However, being obese (1.22, 1.02 to 1.44); having higher deprivation index (1.25, 1.09 to 1.43); living outside London (0.80, 0.66 to 0.96); being male (1.24,

1.09 to 1.42) or of Asian, Black or Mixed Ethnicity (2.0, 1.59 to 2.51) was associated with a higher odds of testing positive. Being over 70 years old (0.82, 0.71 to 0.94) or a regular smoker (0.73, 0.58 to 0.93) was associated with reduced odds.

We found no association between 25(OH)D status and odds of testing positive for SARS-CoV-2. However, the sample on average was not severely vitamin D deficient and results may differ in populations with 25(OH)D < 25 nmol/L. As the number of UK Biobank cases increases, we will expand our model to assess the association between 25(OH)D concentration and COVID-19-attributed mortality and symptom severity.

This research was conducted using the UK Biobank (application 15168). KAW, NCH, DKDW and CC are not collaborators on this application and did not view the individual participant data.

References

Lanham-New, et al. (2020) Br Med J, doi:10.1136/ bmjnph-2020-000089.Google Scholar
Hewison, M (2012) Proc Nutr Soc, 71, 50–61.CrossRefGoogle Scholar