No association between vitamin D status and COVID-19 infection in São Paulo, Brazil

ABSTRACT In recent years the immunomodulatory actions of vitamin D, a steroid hormone, have been extensively studied. In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the question arose as to 25(OH)D status would be related to susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection, since several studies pointed out a higher prevalence and severity of the disease in populations with low levels of 25(OH)D. Thus, we investigated the 25(OH)D levels in adults "Detected" positive for SARS CoV-2 by RT-PCR (reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction) test, and in negative controls, "not Detected", using the Fleury Group's examination database, in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Of a total of 14.692 people with recent assessments of 25(OH)D and RT-PCR tests for COVID-19, 2.345 were positive and 11.585 were negative for the infection. The groups did not differ in the percentage of men and women, or in the age distribution. There were no differences in the distribution of 25(OH)D between the two groups (p = 0.08); mean 25(OH)D of 28.8 ± 21.4 ng/mL and 29.6 ± 18.1 ng/mL, respectively. In the specific population studied, clinical, environmental, socioeconomic and cultural factors should have greater relevance than 25(OH)D in determining the susceptibility to COVID-19.

No association between vitamin D status and COVID-19 infection in São Paulo, Brazil.

In recent years the immunomodulatory actions of vitamin D, a steroid hormone, have been extensively studied. In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the question arose as to 25(OH)D status would be related to susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection, since several studies pointed out a higher prevalence and severity of the disease in populations with low levels of 25(OH)D. Thus, we investigated the 25(OH)D levels in adults "Detected" positive for SARS CoV-2 by RT-PCR (reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction) test, and in negative controls, "not Detected", using the Fleury Group's examination database, in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Of a total of 14.692 people with recent assessments of 25(OH)D and RT-PCR tests for COVID-19, 2.345 were positive and 11.585 were negative for the infection. The groups did not differ in the percentage of men and women, or in the age distribution. There were no differences in the distribution of 25(OH)D between the two groups (p = 0.08); mean 25(OH)D of 28.8 ± 21.4 ng/mL and 29.6 ± 18.1 ng/mL, respectively. In the specific population studied, clinical, environmental, socioeconomic and cultural factors should have greater relevance than 25(OH)D in determining the susceptibility to COVID-19.

Correlação entre a densidade óptica da mandíbula e a densidade óssea do fêmur e da coluna vertebral / Correlation between the mandible optical density and the bone density of the femur and the lumbar vertebrae

Estudo realizado em 25 pacientes do gênero feminino com idade média de 60 anos, com mais de cinco anos de pós-menopausa. Utilizou-se para análise, o T-score do colo do fêmur e da coluna vertebral (L2-L4), obtido pela densitometria óssea e comparou-se com a média dos valores de densidade óptica da mandíbula, nos cortes coronais da tomografia computadorizada, passando pelo forame mentual, abaixo do canal mandibular, na região de interesse (ROI). Resultado: observou-se que existe correlação entre as duas medidas, pelo índice de correlação linear de Pearson, onde explica que 49,9% das pacientes que apresentam baixo T-score da coluna também apresentam baixa densidade na mandíbula e 39,3% das pacientes que apresentam baixo T-score no colo do fêmur também apresentam baixa densidade na mandíbula. Conclusão: Existe correlação, estatisticamente significante, entre o T-score do colo do fêmur e da coluna vertebral L2-L4, e a média da densidade óptica da mandíbula na região de interesse da tomografia computadorizada.