The Association Between COVID-19 Infection Severity and Micronutrient Deficiencies in Children
Haleh Pashaei, Fahimeh Ehsanipour, Samileh Noorbakhsh, Behnam Sobouti, Sara Minaeian, Morteza Haghighi Hasanabad, Zahra Sadr
Journal of Comprehensive Pediatrics, doi:10.5812/jcp-149127
Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can cause pulmonary and systemic inflammation in both children and adults. Investigating the potential impact of micronutrient deficiencies on COVID-19 infection is of great importance. Objectives: This case-control study was designed to compare the serum levels of vitamins D and C and zinc between healthy children and children with mild or severe COVID-19 infection, as well as to investigate the impact of micronutrient deficiencies on the clinical symptoms of patients. Methods: This case-control study was conducted at a teaching hospital in Tehran, Iran. Control subjects were recruited from healthy children, and cases were included from children with mild and severe symptoms of COVID-19. Blood samples were obtained from participants to measure the levels of micronutrients and were analyzed using statistical software. Results: A total of 85 subjects were included (33 controls, 25 cases with mild symptoms, and 27 cases with severe symptoms). We found no differences in the means of serum vitamin D and vitamin C levels between the studied groups. However, the mean serum zinc level was significantly lower in severe patients compared to the controls (P < 0.01). Moreover, no significant difference was observed in the frequency of patients with micronutrient deficiencies based on their clinical conditions. Conclusions: Our findings revealed zinc deficiency in children with severe COVID-19 infection, while no significant differences were found in the mean serum levels of vitamins D and C between healthy children and patients. More studies are necessary to provide more robust evidence.
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'abstract': '<jats:p>Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can cause pulmonary and systemic '
'inflammation in both children and adults. Investigating the potential impact of micronutrient '
'deficiencies on COVID-19 infection is of great importance. Objectives: This case-control '
'study was designed to compare the serum levels of vitamins D and C and zinc between healthy '
'children and children with mild or severe COVID-19 infection, as well as to investigate the '
'impact of micronutrient deficiencies on the clinical symptoms of patients. Methods: This '
'case-control study was conducted at a teaching hospital in Tehran, Iran. Control subjects '
'were recruited from healthy children, and cases were included from children with mild and '
'severe symptoms of COVID-19. Blood samples were obtained from participants to measure the '
'levels of micronutrients and were analyzed using statistical software. Results: A total of 85 '
'subjects were included (33 controls, 25 cases with mild symptoms, and 27 cases with severe '
'symptoms). We found no differences in the means of serum vitamin D and vitamin C levels '
'between the studied groups. However, the mean serum zinc level was significantly lower in '
'severe patients compared to the controls (P < 0.01). Moreover, no significant difference '
'was observed in the frequency of patients with micronutrient deficiencies based on their '
'clinical conditions. Conclusions: Our findings revealed zinc deficiency in children with '
'severe COVID-19 infection, while no significant differences were found in the mean serum '
'levels of vitamins D and C between healthy children and patients. More studies are necessary '
'to provide more robust evidence.</jats:p>',
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