Study Title
No evidence that vitamin D is able to prevent or affect the severity of COVID-19 in individuals with European ancestry: A Mendelian randomisation study of open data.
Principal Investigator
Hasnat A Amin, Fotios Drenos.
Affiliation
Brunel University London, University College London.
Start Date
August 2020.
End Date
December 2020.
Study Objective
To assess whether genetically predicted vitamin D levels are associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection risk and the severity of COVID-19 among individuals of European ancestry.
Short Abstract
This study used a Mendelian randomisation approach to investigate whether genetically predicted vitamin D levels influence the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection or COVID-19 severity. The findings showed no evidence that vitamin D levels causally affect the risk of infection or the severity of COVID-19 in individuals of European ancestry. The results support the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) statement that vitamin D supplementation should not be considered a protective measure against COVID-19.
Study Design
A two-sample Mendelian randomisation study using genome-wide association data for vitamin D levels and COVID-19 outcomes.
Population
Individuals of European descent from multiple cohort studies, including UK Biobank.
Sample Size
11,181 cases of COVID-19 and 116,456 controls for infection risk, with 1,389 severe COVID-19 cases and 5,879 controls for severity.
Inclusion Criteria
Participants of European ancestry with genome-wide association data.
Exclusion Criteria
Non-European ancestry.
Intervention/Exposure
Genetically predicted serum vitamin D levels assessed using single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs).
Outcome Measures
- Risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
- Severity of COVID-19 (hospitalisation or severe respiratory illness).
Funding Source
Brunel University London Research Initiative and Enterprise Fund.
Collaborating Institutions
Brunel University London, University College London.
Ethics Approval
Not required (used publicly available data).
Publication Status
Published in BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health, January 2021.
Keywords
Vitamin D, COVID-19, Mendelian randomisation, European ancestry, SARS-CoV-2.
Data Collection Methods
Genome-wide association data from UK Biobank and the COVID-19 Host Genetics Initiative.
Primary Data Availability
Data available from the COVID-19 Host Genetics Initiative and UK Biobank.
Contact Information
Dr. Fotios Drenos,