ABSTRACT
Due to the known anti-inflammatory and antiviral effects of zinc, 25(OH)D, and vitamin B12, in this study, we explored the association between serum levels of these micronutrients in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients at the time of admission and the clinical outcomes. This study was carried out on 293 patients with COVID-19, who were hospitalized at Imam Hassan hospital (Bojnourd, Iran). We collected demographic data, clinical characteristics, values of serum biochemical parameters in the first week of admission, and clinical outcomes from electronic medical records. We also measured serum levels of zinc, 25(OH)D, and vitamin B12 within 3 days of admission. Of the 293 hospitalized, the median age was 53 years, and 147 (50.17%) were female. Thirty-seven patients (12.62%) were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), and forty-two (14.32%) died. We found that the serum levels of zinc, vitamin B12, and 25(OH)D were lower in patients who died than those who were admitted to ICU or non-ICU and survived; however, these differences were not statistically significant for vitamin B12 and 25(OH)D (p > 0.05). The serum concentrations of zinc, vitamin B12, and 25(OH)D at the time of admission did not affect the length of hospital stay in patients with COVID-19. In general, it seems that serum levels of 25(OH)D, vitamin B12, and especially zinc at the time of admission can affect clinical outcomes in COVID-19 patients.
Subject(s)
COVID-19/blood , COVID-19/physiopathology , Vitamin B 12/blood , Vitamin D/analogs & derivatives , Vitamin D/blood , Zinc/blood , Adult , Female , Hospitalization , Humans , Intensive Care Units , Length of Stay , Male , Middle Aged , Prognosis , Severity of Illness IndexABSTRACT
The socio-economic implications of COVID-19 are devastating. Considerable morbidity is attributed to 'long-COVID' - an increasingly recognized complication of infection. Its diverse symptoms are reminiscent of vitamin B12 deficiency, a condition in which methylation status is compromised. We suggest why SARS-CoV-2 infection likely leads to increased methyl-group requirements and other disturbances of one-carbon metabolism. We propose these might explain the varied symptoms of long-COVID. Our suggested mechanismmight also apply to similar conditions such as myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome. The hypothesis is evaluable by detailed determination of vitamin B12and folate status, including serum formate as well as homocysteine and methylmalonic acid, and correlation with viral and host RNA methylation and symptomatology. If confirmed, methyl-group support should prove beneficial in such individuals.
Subject(s)
COVID-19/complications , Folic Acid/blood , Vitamin B 12 Deficiency/diagnosis , Adenosine/analogs & derivatives , Adenosine/chemistry , COVID-19/blood , COVID-19/physiopathology , Folic Acid Deficiency , Formates/blood , Genome, Viral , Glutathione/blood , Homocysteine/blood , Hospitalization , Humans , Methylation , Methylmalonic Acid/blood , Oxidative Stress , RNA/chemistry , Serine/blood , Vitamin B 12/blood , Post-Acute COVID-19 SyndromeSubject(s)
COVID-19/blood , Vitamin B 12/blood , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , COVID-19/mortality , COVID-19/therapy , Female , Folic Acid/blood , Humans , Intensive Care Units , Male , Middle Aged , Pneumonia, Viral/blood , Prospective Studies , SARS-CoV-2 , Vitamin B 12/administration & dosage , Vitamin B 12 Deficiency/blood , Vitamin B 12 Deficiency/epidemiologyABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of folate and vitamin B12 levels on pregnancy progression and outcomes. METHODS: The present study is a prospective follow up study of 100 pregnant women. Biochemical investigations (plasma homocysteine, folate, and vitamin B12 levels) were performed on all pregnant women in first, second, and third trimesters. Nonparametric tests were used to compare the differences in median levels and odds ratio analysis for the assessment of the risk between the selected biomarkers and adverse pregnancy progression and outcomes. RESULTS: The pregnant women at their first antenatal care visit were found to be predominantly folate replete (97%) and vitamin B12 deficient (60%). Hyperhomocysteinemia in first and second trimesters was found to pose more than 3-fold increased risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes (P = .006 and .0002, respectively). Low birth weight (LBW) was found to be the most common adverse pregnancy outcome (52%), and was significantly associated with vitamin B12 deficiency in the first and second trimesters (82%, P < .0001; 71.4%, P = .04, respectively). CONCLUSION: The vitamin B12 deficiency is more common among Indian pregnant women as compared to folate deficiency. Hyperhomocysteinemia is an independent risk factor for pregnancy complications. Vitamin B12 deficiency in first and second trimesters is associated with LBW babies.