Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on vitamin D, blood glucose, and lipid profiles in the Turkish population

Abstract

Background: The frequency of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (vitamin D) deficiency may have increased due to less sun exposure during the COVID-19 pandemic. On the contrary, considering the data indicating that vitamin D deficiency increases susceptibility to respiratory tract infections, more people may have chosen to take vitamin D supplements as a precaution during the pandemic. Aim of the study: To assess how the pandemic affected vitamin D levels, blood glucose levels, and lipid profiles in a Turkish population. Material and methods: This retrospective single-center study was conducted at a university hospital. Data about age, gender, comorbidities, vitamin D3, blood glucose, and lipid profiles were obtained from the hospital database. The patients were grouped into pre-pandemic (before 10 March 2020) and pandemic periods (between 10 March 2020 and 10 March 2021) and compared in terms of vitamin D, blood glucose, lipid profile, and other metabolic parameters. Results: The hospital records of 8,658 patients were examined in this study. Of these, 3,551 (41.0%) were from the pre-pandemic period, and 5,107 (59.0%) were from the pandemic period. Females accounted for 5,980 (69.1%) of the patients, and the mean age was 44.15±16.72. The mean vitamin D level was significantly higher during the pandemic than during the pre-pandemic period (p<0.001; 21.30±11.92 ng/mL vs. 19.89±11.33 ng/mL, respectively). There were significant differences between the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods in blood glucose, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and triglycerides (p<0.05). Conclusions: This study determined that vitamin D, blood glucose, LDL, and triglyceride levels increased, while HDL levels decreased, during the COVID-19 pandemic in a Turkish population.