Vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms role in COVID‐19 severity: Results of a Mexican patients’ cohort

Abstract

AbstractVitamin D status has been involved with coronavirus disease 19 (COVID‐19) severity. This may be mediated by vitamin D metabolism regulatory genes. Of interest is the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene, which has been previously associated with other inflammatory and respiratory diseases. In order to investigate the role of VDR gene polymorphisms in COVID‐19 severity and outcome, a total of 292 COVID‐19 patients were classified according to severity in moderate (n = 56), severe (n = 89) and critical (n = 147) and, according to outcome in survivor (n = 163) and deceased (n = 129), and analysed for FokI and TaqI VDR gene polymorphisms by polymerase chain reaction‐based restriction enzyme digestion. The FokI and TaqI single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were not associated with COVID‐19 severity or mortality individually but when analysed by haplotype, TC was associated with an increased risk of presenting critical COVID‐19. Additionally, FokI CT genotype was more frequent in COVID‐19 patients with hypertension, and T allele carriers presented higher aspartate aminotransferase levels. Our results suggest a relationship between VDR FokI and TaqI SNPs and COVID‐19 severity in Mexican population. Although there are some previous reports of VDR polymorphisms in COVID‐19, this represents the first report in Latin American population. Further studies on other populations are encouraged.