| Association between vitamin D polymorphisms and
binding protein and COVID-19 risk and severity in children |
Victoria Giatraki1,2 
, Helen Dimitriou2
, Georgia Martimianaki2
, Christos Tsatsanis3
, Emmanouil Galanakis1,2
, Chrysoula Perdikogianni1,2
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1Department of Paediatrics, University Hospital of Heraklion, Medical School University of Crete, Greece , Heraklion, Crete, Greece
2Laboratory of Child’s Health, Division of Mother and Child Health, Medical School University of Crete, Greece, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
3Laboratory of Clinical Chemistry, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical School University of Crete, Greece, Heraklion, Crete, Greece |
Correspondence:
Chrysoula Perdikogianni, Email: perdikogian@uoc.gr
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Received: 9 March 2025 • Revised: 1 July 2025 • Accepted: 18 July 2025 |
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| Abstract |
Background
The effects of genetic background on the
biological effects of vitamin D on coronavirus disease 2019
(COVID-19) in children remain unclear.
Purpose
This study aimed to explore the association
between vitamin D-related genetic background and 25-
hydroxyvitamin D status and COVID-19 occurrence and
severity in children. Here we explored key genetic variants
within the vitamin D pathway in pediatric COVID-19 patients
in relation to circulating vitamin D binding protein
(VDBP).
Methods
Sixty children aged 0–14 years with severe
acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection and
60 matched controls were genotyped for the vitamin D
receptor (VDR) gene (FokI, BsmI, TaqI, ApaI), Gc gene of
VDBP (rs7041, rs4588), and CYP27B1 promoter (rs10877012)
single nucleotide polymorphisms by polymerase chain
reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism
assay.
Results
The FokI FF genotype was more frequently identified
among COVID-19 patients than controls, among
whom the TaqI TT genotype was prevalent (odds ratio
[OR], 2.26; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08–4.73; P=0.02;
and OR, 0.29; 95% CI, 0.13–0.63; P=0.001, respectively). The
Gc1F haplotype was significantly more represented in
controls versus COVID-19 patients (OR, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.19–
0.81; P=0.01). A 2.04-fold increased risk of COVID-19 was
observed in the presence of the VDR FokI F allele (OR, 2.04;
95% CI, 1.14–3.64; P=0.01). A multivariate analysis revealed
a significant association between the FokI FF genotype
and disease severity (OR, 0.20; 95% CI, 0.04–0.83; P=0.02).
Serum VDBP levels were similar between groups.
Conclusion
The FF genotype of the VDR FokI polymorphism
may be associated with COVID-19 and have a
significant clinical impact on disease severity in children. |
| Key Words:
COVID-19, Vitamin D receptor, Vitamin D
binding protein, CYP27B1, Single nucleotide polymorphism |
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