Genetic Variations of the Vitamin D Metabolic Pathway and COVID-19 Susceptibility and Severity: Current Understanding and Existing Evidence
Issued Date
2023-02-01
Resource Type
eISSN
22279059
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85148914266
Journal Title
Biomedicines
Volume
11
Issue
2
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Biomedicines Vol.11 No.2 (2023)
Suggested Citation
Charoenngam N., Jaroenlapnopparat A., Mettler S.K., Grover A. Genetic Variations of the Vitamin D Metabolic Pathway and COVID-19 Susceptibility and Severity: Current Understanding and Existing Evidence. Biomedicines Vol.11 No.2 (2023). doi:10.3390/biomedicines11020400 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/81660
Title
Genetic Variations of the Vitamin D Metabolic Pathway and COVID-19 Susceptibility and Severity: Current Understanding and Existing Evidence
Author's Affiliation
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
The immunomodulatory and metabolic effects of vitamin D receptor (VDR) activation have been considered beneficial in mitigating the susceptibility and severity of COVID-19 infection. Furthermore, vitamin D-binding protein (DBP) has pleiotropic effects on the immune system that may influence inflammation associated with COVID-19. Multiple observational studies have demonstrated an association between low levels of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and risk and the severity of COVID-19 infection. However, the impact of vitamin D supplementation as an adjunctive treatment for COVID-19 based on evidence from randomized clinical trials is unclear. Equally important is that certain variations of the genes involved in the vitamin D metabolic pathway have been shown to affect immune function and linked with various clinical outcomes, including cardio-metabolic disorders, autoimmune diseases, infections, and cancers. This indicates inter-individual difference in body response to vitamin D. There is also emerging evidence that common polymorphisms of these genes may influence the susceptibility and severity of COVID-19, although the confidence of these findings is limited by a small number of studies and participants. Further studies are needed to address the potential role of VDR activation and DBP in the pathophysiology of COVID-19 which take into account the genetic variations of vitamin D metabolic pathway.