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Abstract

Background: Vitamins A and C are crucial nutrients of the human immune system, present in micro amounts. They have important antioxidant properties. Different studies point out their importance in improving the individual immune system's performance.
Objective: To find out the relation between the serum concentrations of Vitamin A and Vitamin C and the severity of COVID-19.
Methodology: This retrospective cohort study examined the association between baseline serum levels of Vitamin A and Vitamin C and COVID-19 severity. A total of 94 individuals were enrolled, including 64 COVID-19 patients and 30 controls. Blood samples were collected from all participants to measure serum Vitamin A and C levels. CT imaging was conducted for COVID-19 patients to assess lung involvement, with CT Severity Scores (CT-SS) calculated for each patient. The length of hospitalization (LOH) was also recorded. Statistical analyses compared vitamin levels between groups and assessed correlations with CT-SS and LOH. The study followed ethical guidelines, with informed consent obtained from participants and approval from the institutional review board.
Results: Level of Vit. A (mean ± SD: 489±98 ng/ml) compared to healthy individuals (mean ± SD: 695±95 ng/ml; p<0.002) is significantly lower. Similarly, the level of C in COVID-19 patients (median [IQR]: 2958 [1992-31717] ng/ml) and in healthy controls was (median [IQR]: 3955 [1389-8781] ng/ml; p = 0.006). Additionally, correlation analysis revealed a negative association between the levels of Vitamin A and C to that of outcome measures. Top of Form
Conclusion: This study concluded that Vitamins A and C levels were significantly lower in COVID-19 patients compared to healthy individuals. Additionally, a negative correlation was observed between the levels of these vitamins and both the CT Severity Score (CT-SS) and the length of hospitalization (LOH), indicating that lower Vitamin A and C levels were associated with greater disease severity and longer hospital stays in COVID-19 patients.