Vitamin D Status and SARS-CoV-2 Positivity in Lebanon Among Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study in South Lebanon

Madar et al., COVID, doi:10.3390/covid5070097, Jun 2025

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Vitamin D for COVID-19

8th treatment shown to reduce risk in October 2020, now with p < 0.00000000001 from 126 studies, recognized in 18 countries.

Lower risk for mortality, ICU, hospitalization, progression, recovery, cases, and viral clearance.

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Cross-sectional study of 384 adults showing no significant association between vitamin D levels and test positivity.

This is the 222nd of 223 COVID-19 sufficiency studies for vitamin D, which collectively show higher levels reduce risk with p<0.0000000001 (1 in 4,044,100,105,864 vigintillion).

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risk of case, 33.8% lower, OR 0.66, p = 0.15, high D levels (≥50 ng/mL) 143, low D levels (<30 ng/mL) 114, adjusted per study, inverted to make OR<1 favor high D levels (≥50 ng/mL), RR approximated with OR.

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Madar et al., 27 Jun 2025, retrospective, Lebanon, peer-reviewed, mean age 38.8, 4 authors, study period 23 November, 2021 - 30 April, 2022. Contact: a.a.madar@medisin.uio.no.

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Vitamin D Status and SARS-CoV-2 Positivity in Lebanon Among Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study in South Lebanon

Ahmed A Madar, Firass Al Lababidi, Filali Samia, Haakon E Meyer

COVID, doi:10.3390/covid5070097

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected countries globally, causing significant respiratory tract symptoms, including shortness of breath, coughing, chest tightness, and wheezing. Vitamin D has been proposed to play a key role, especially in upper respiratory tract infections. Recently, numerous studies and reports associating low serum 25hydroxyvitamin D levels (s-25-(OH)D) and adverse outcomes in COVID-19 have emerged. We aimed to assess the association between vitamin D status and SARS-CoV-2 positivity among adults in Lebanon. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted, recruiting 384 participants aged 18-75 years from a university hospital in South Lebanon. Background variables were collected through structured questionnaires. Serum 25(OH)D levels were measured using electrochemiluminescence immunoassay, and SARS-CoV-2 positivity was assessed through PCR testing. Results: The mean s-25(OH)D level was 46.8 nmol/L (SD 28.1), and 30% of the participants had vitamin D deficiency (s-25-(OH)D level <30 nmol/L). SARS-CoV-2 positivity was reported in 28% of participants. However, no significant association was found between s-25(OH)D levels and SARS-CoV-2 positivity. This study had several limitations, including potential selection bias due to recruiting participants from a hospital for PCR testing, the collection of data across different seasons, and the refusal of several eligible individuals to participate. Additionally, the lack of data on participants' immunization status and assay variability may impact the generalizability and interpretation of the findings. Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency among adults participating in COVID-19 tests in Lebanon, but it was not associated with SARS-CoV-2 positivity.

Supplementary Materials: The following supporting information can be downloaded at https: //www.mdpi.com/article/10.3390/covid5070097/s1 , Table S1 : SARS-CoV-2 positivity and BMI gender, age, and education level with vitamin D levels. Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results.

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