The outcome of COVID-19 appears to be influenced by vitamin D status of population. Although epidemiological data indicate that COVID-19 produces more severe symptoms and higher mortality in elderly in comparison to young patients and in men in comparison to women to date sex and age differences in vitamin D status in infected patients have not been evaluated yet. In this study we evaluated the levels of circulating 25(OH)D in patients hospitalized for COVID-19 divided accordingly to their sex and age. We also correlated 25(OH)D levels with patient’s respiratory status (i.e., PaO2/FiO2 ratio) and with sex hormones plasma levels to analyze the potential relationship of these parameters. We found no significant differences in plasma levels of 25(OH)D between pre- and post-menopausal female patients and age matched male patients. Interestingly, the 25(OH)D plasma levels positively correlated to PaO2/FiO2 ratio only in young patients, regardless of their sex. We also found a significantly positive correlation between 17β-estradiol and 25(OH)D in elderly women and between testosterone and 25(OH)D in elderly men, supporting the role of sex hormones in maintaining 25(OH)D levels. In conclusion, we suggest that a synergy between vitamin D and sex hormones could contribute to the age-related outcome of COVID-19.

Synergy between vitamin D and sex hormones in respiratory functionality of patients affected by COVID-19 / Peruzzu, D.; Pagano, M. T.; Pierdominici, M.; Ruggieri, A.; Antinori, A.; D'Offizi, G.; Petrosillo, N.; Palmieri, F.; Piselli, P.; Boumis, E.; Notari, S.; Nicastri, E.; Agrati, C.; Ippolito, G.; Gagliardi, M. C.; Capobianchi, M. R.; Ortona, E.; Anticoli, S.; Bellenghi, M.; Bordoni, V.; Camici1, M.; Casetti, R.; Cerva, C.; Chinello, P.; Imini, E.; Donno, D. R.; Dupuis, M. L.; Faraglia, F.; Fecchi, K.; Gagliardini, R.; Grassi, G.; Di Lorenzo, R.; Macchione, M.; Maffongelli, G.; Mattia, G.; Milozzi, E.; Pontecorvi, G.; Puglisi, R.; Sacchi, A.; Tartaglia, E.; Vita, S.. - In: FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY. - ISSN 1663-9812. - 12:(2021), pp. 1-5. [10.3389/fphar.2021.683529]

Synergy between vitamin D and sex hormones in respiratory functionality of patients affected by COVID-19

Pagano M. T.
Secondo
Writing – Original Draft Preparation
;
Pierdominici M.;Notari S.;Nicastri E.;Capobianchi M. R.;Bellenghi M.;Bordoni V.;Cerva C.;Fecchi K.;Gagliardini R.;Di Lorenzo R.;Maffongelli G.;Pontecorvi G.;
2021

Abstract

The outcome of COVID-19 appears to be influenced by vitamin D status of population. Although epidemiological data indicate that COVID-19 produces more severe symptoms and higher mortality in elderly in comparison to young patients and in men in comparison to women to date sex and age differences in vitamin D status in infected patients have not been evaluated yet. In this study we evaluated the levels of circulating 25(OH)D in patients hospitalized for COVID-19 divided accordingly to their sex and age. We also correlated 25(OH)D levels with patient’s respiratory status (i.e., PaO2/FiO2 ratio) and with sex hormones plasma levels to analyze the potential relationship of these parameters. We found no significant differences in plasma levels of 25(OH)D between pre- and post-menopausal female patients and age matched male patients. Interestingly, the 25(OH)D plasma levels positively correlated to PaO2/FiO2 ratio only in young patients, regardless of their sex. We also found a significantly positive correlation between 17β-estradiol and 25(OH)D in elderly women and between testosterone and 25(OH)D in elderly men, supporting the role of sex hormones in maintaining 25(OH)D levels. In conclusion, we suggest that a synergy between vitamin D and sex hormones could contribute to the age-related outcome of COVID-19.
2021
gender; SARS-CoV-2; sex differences; sex hormones; vitamin D
01 Pubblicazione su rivista::01a Articolo in rivista
Synergy between vitamin D and sex hormones in respiratory functionality of patients affected by COVID-19 / Peruzzu, D.; Pagano, M. T.; Pierdominici, M.; Ruggieri, A.; Antinori, A.; D'Offizi, G.; Petrosillo, N.; Palmieri, F.; Piselli, P.; Boumis, E.; Notari, S.; Nicastri, E.; Agrati, C.; Ippolito, G.; Gagliardi, M. C.; Capobianchi, M. R.; Ortona, E.; Anticoli, S.; Bellenghi, M.; Bordoni, V.; Camici1, M.; Casetti, R.; Cerva, C.; Chinello, P.; Imini, E.; Donno, D. R.; Dupuis, M. L.; Faraglia, F.; Fecchi, K.; Gagliardini, R.; Grassi, G.; Di Lorenzo, R.; Macchione, M.; Maffongelli, G.; Mattia, G.; Milozzi, E.; Pontecorvi, G.; Puglisi, R.; Sacchi, A.; Tartaglia, E.; Vita, S.. - In: FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY. - ISSN 1663-9812. - 12:(2021), pp. 1-5. [10.3389/fphar.2021.683529]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/1674380
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