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The association between B vitamins and the risk of COVID-19

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 November 2022

Mina Darand Open the ORCID record for Mina Darand [Opens in a new window] ,
Shirin Hassanizadeh Open the ORCID record for Shirin Hassanizadeh [Opens in a new window] ,
Fahime Martami ,
Shamim Shams ,
Masoud Mirzaei Open the ORCID record for Masoud Mirzaei [Opens in a new window]  and
Mahdieh Hosseinzadeh Open the ORCID record for Mahdieh Hosseinzadeh [Opens in a new window]
Mina Darand
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Science, Food Security Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
Shirin Hassanizadeh
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Science, Food Security Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
Fahime Martami
Affiliation:
PhD student in Nutritional Sciences, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Isfahan, Iran
Shamim Shams
Affiliation:
Nutrition and Food Security Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran Department of Nutrition, School of public health, Shahid Sadughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
Masoud Mirzaei
Affiliation:
Yazd Cardiovascular Research Centre, Non-communicable Disease Institute, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
Mahdieh Hosseinzadeh*
Affiliation:
Nutrition and Food Security Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran Department of Nutrition, School of public health, Shahid Sadughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
*
* Corresponding author: Mahdieh Hosseinzadeh, email hoseinzade.mahdie@gmail.com
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Abstract

The fast spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic and its high mortality were quickly noticed by the health community. B vitamins are essential micronutrients for the body with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immune-regulating properties. The present study can provide a comprehensive picture of the associations between B vitamins and COVID-19 incidence. This study was undertaken on 9189 adult participants of the Yazd Health Study (YaHS) and Taghzieh Mardom-e-Yazd (TAMIZ) study aged 20 to 69 years. Data on dietary intakes were obtained using a validated FFQ. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between B vitamins and COVID-19. Our findings indicated that participants in the fourth quartile of vitamin B5 intake compared with the first quartile had a protective effect against COVID-19 (OR: 0·53, 95 % CI 0·28, 0·99, P-trend = 0·02) after adjustment for all possible confounds in model 3. In addition, participants in the third quartile of vitamin B12 intake compared with the first quartile (OR: 0·63, 95 % CI 0·40, 0·98, P-trend = 0·11) had fewer odds of COVID-19 after full adjustments for confounders. Our findings indicated no significant relationship between dietary intake of vitamin B1, B2, B3, B9 and B-complex and COVID-19. A higher intake of vitamin B5 could reduce the odds of COVID-19 by 47 %, and a moderate intake of vitamin B12 had a protective effect on COVID-19. Although our study has promising results, stronger clinical studies are needed.

Keywords

Vitamin BVitamin B12Vitamin B9COVID-19
Type
Research Article
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 130 , Issue 1 , 14 July 2023 , pp. 155 - 163
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of The Nutrition Society

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Footnotes

†

These authors are equal in the position of the first name

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