Disentangling the COVID-19 Health Disparities in African Americans: Biological, Environmental and Social Factors

Open Forum Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/ofid/ofab064 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Geetanjali Saini ◽

Monica H Swahn ◽

Ritu Aneja

Keyword(s):

Vitamin D ◽

Social Factors ◽

Host Immunity ◽

Minority Populations ◽

Biological Factors ◽

Environmental Determinants ◽

Environmental Determinants Of Health ◽

Vitamin D Levels ◽

Underlying Causes ◽

The U.S

Abstract The stark racial disparities related to the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S., wherein minority populations are disproportionately getting infected and succumbing to the disease, is of grave concern. It is critical to understand and address the underlying causes of these disparities that are complex and driven by interacting environmental, social and biological factors. In this article we focus on the AA community and examine how social and environmental determinants of health intersect with biological factors (comorbidities, underlying genetics, host immunity, vitamin D levels, epigenetics) to exacerbate risk for morbidity and mortality.

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Vitamin D and Chronic Pain in Immigrant and Ethnic Minority Patients—Investigation of the Relationship and Comparison with Native Western Populations

International Journal of Endocrinology ◽

10.1155/2010/753075 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 2010 ◽

pp. 1-5 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Sebastian Straube ◽

R. Andrew Moore ◽

Sheena Derry ◽

Ernst Hallier ◽

Henry J. McQuay

Keyword(s):

Vitamin D ◽

Chronic Pain ◽

Ethnic Minority ◽

Minority Populations ◽

Insufficient Evidence ◽

Vitamin D Levels ◽

Ethnic Minority Populations ◽

25 Oh Vitamin D ◽

The Relationship ◽

Lower Vitamin

Vitamin D deficiency has been implicated in chronic pain. Immigrant and ethnic minority populations have been shown to have lower vitamin D levels than native Western populations and often to be vitamin D deficient. This systematic review investigates the relationship between vitamin D and chronic pain in immigrant and ethnic minority populations. Included were studies reporting on 25-OH vitamin D levels in immigrant/ethnic minority populations affected by chronic pain, and/or reporting on the treatment of chronic pain with vitamin D preparations in such populations. We found that 25-OH vitamin D levels were low and often deficient in immigrant/ethnic minority populations. Vitamin D levels depended on the latitude of the study location and hence sunlight exposure. There was insufficient evidence to reach a verdict on the value of treating chronic pain in immigrant/ethnic minority patients with vitamin D preparations because the studies were few, small, and of low quality.

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Vitamin D deficiency in minority populations

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980014000457 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 18 (3) ◽

pp. 379-391 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Glen B Taksler ◽

David M Cutler ◽

Edward Giovannucci ◽

Nancy L Keating

Keyword(s):

Vitamin D ◽

Vitamin D Deficiency ◽

Serum Vitamin ◽

Sun Exposure ◽

Vitamin D Insufficiency ◽

Vitamin D Supplementation ◽

Minority Populations ◽

Uv Index ◽

Serum Vitamin D ◽

Vitamin D Levels

AbstractObjectiveBlack and Hispanic individuals synthesize less vitamin D per unit of sun exposure than white individuals. The relationship between UV radiation and vitamin D insufficiency in minorities has not been well explored.DesignProspective cohort study.SettingUsing the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, we obtained serum vitamin D levels for non-Hispanic Whites, Hispanics and non-Hispanic Blacks aged ≥18 years from 2000–2006. We linked these data with the average monthly solar UV index by census tract and data on sun exposure, vitamin D supplementation, health and demographics. We used multivariable regression analyses to assess vitamin D deficiency (<15 ng/ml) and insufficiency (<20 ng/ml) in January (when the UV index was lowest) by race/ethnicity and geography.SubjectsAdults (n 14 319) aged ≥18 years.ResultsA 1-point increase in the UV index was associated with a 0·51 ng/ml increase in vitamin D (95 % CI 0·35, 0·67 ng/ml; P<0·001). Non-Hispanic Black race and Hispanic ethnicity were associated with a 7·47 and 3·41 ng/ml decrease in vitamin D, respectively (both P<0·001). In January, an estimated 65·4 % of non-Hispanic Blacks were deficient in vitamin D, compared with 28·9 % of Hispanics and 14·0 % of non-Hispanic Whites. An estimated 84·2 % of non-Hispanic Blacks were insufficient in vitamin D v. 56·3 % of Hispanics and 34·8 % of non-Hispanic Whites. More non-Hispanic Blacks were estimated to be deficient in vitamin D in January in the highest UV index quartile than were non-Hispanic Whites in the lowest UV index quartile (60·2 % v. 25·7 %).ConclusionsWintertime vitamin D insufficiency is pervasive among minority populations, and not uncommon among non-Hispanic Whites.

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Abstract #421 Association of Vitamin D Levels with the Severity of Fibrosis in NAFLD Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Endocrine Practice ◽

10.1016/s1530-891x(20)46765-5 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 25 ◽

pp. 199-200

Author(s):

Prathyusha Chitrapu ◽

Shilpa Jain ◽

Aaron Thrift ◽

Maya Balakrishnan ◽

Ruchi Gaba

Keyword(s):

Type 2 Diabetes ◽

Vitamin D ◽

Vitamin D Levels

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Abstract #224 Sublingual Vitamin D Effective in Improving Low Vitamin D Levels in Patients Resistant to Conventional Vitamin D Supplementation

Endocrine Practice ◽

10.1016/s1530-891x(20)46568-1 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 25 ◽

pp. 76-77

Author(s):

Sobia Faisal ◽

Faryal Mirza

Keyword(s):

Vitamin D ◽

Vitamin D Supplementation ◽

Vitamin D Levels

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Vitamin D levels are not associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease severity in a Brazilian population

International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research ◽

10.1024/0300-9831/a000667 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Jeniffer Danielle M. Dutra ◽

Quelson Coelho Lisboa ◽

Silvia Marinho Ferolla ◽

Carolina Martinelli M. L. Carvalho ◽

Camila Costa M. Mendes ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Vitamin D ◽

Liver Disease ◽

Fatty Liver ◽

Disease Severity ◽

Fatty Liver Disease ◽

Hypovitaminosis D ◽

Alcoholic Fatty Liver ◽

Vitamin D Levels ◽

The Mean ◽

Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Abstract. Some epidemiological evidence suggests an inverse correlation between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) frequency and vitamin D levels. Likewise, a beneficial effect of vitamin D on diabetes mellitus (DM) and insulin resistance has been observed, but this is an unsolved issue. Thus, we aimed to investigate the prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in a NAFLD Brazilian population and its association with disease severity and presence of comorbidities. In a cross-sectional study, the clinical, biochemical and histological parameters of 139 NAFLD patients were evaluated according to two different cut-off points of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels (20 ng/mL and 30 ng/mL). The mean age of the population was 56 ± 16 years, most patients were female (83%), 72% had hypertension, 88% dyslipidemia, 46% DM, 98% central obesity, and 82% metabolic syndrome. Serum vitamin D levels were < 30 ng/mL in 78% of the patients, and < 20 ng/mL in 35%. The mean vitamin D level was 24.3 ± 6.8 ng/mL. The comparison between the clinical, biochemical and histological characteristics of the patients according to the levels of vitamin D showed no significant difference. Most patients with NAFLD had hypovitaminosis D, but low vitamin D levels were not related to disease severity and the presence of comorbidities.

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Clinical factors correlated with vitamin D deficiency in patients with obesity scheduled for bariatric surgery: A single center experience

International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research ◽

10.1024/0300-9831/a000662 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 90 (3-4) ◽

pp. 346-352

Author(s):

Vincenzo Pilone ◽

Salvatore Tramontano ◽

Carmen Cutolo ◽

Federica Marchese ◽

Antonio Maria Pagano ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bariatric Surgery ◽

Vitamin D ◽

Vitamin D Deficiency ◽

Serum Vitamin ◽

Inverse Correlation ◽

Model Assessment ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Serum Vitamin D ◽

Female Sex ◽

Vitamin D Levels

Abstract. We aim to assess the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (VDD) in patients scheduled for bariatric surgery (BS), and to identify factors that might be associated with VDD. We conducted a cross-sectional observational study involving all consecutive patients scheduled for BS from 2017 to 2019. The exclusion criteria were missing data for vitamin D levels, intake of vitamin D supplements in the 3 months prior to serum vitamin D determination, and renal insufficiency. A total of 206 patients (mean age and body mass index [BMI] of 34.9 ± 10.7 years, and 44.3 ± 6.99 kg/m2, respectively) met the inclusion criteria and were enrolled for data analysis. VDD (<19.9 ng/mL), severe VDD (<10 ng/mL), and vitamin D insufficiency (20–29.9 ng/mL) were present in 68.8 %, 12.5 %, and 31.2 % of patients, respectively. A significant inverse correlation was found between vitamin D levels and initial BMI, parathyroid hormone, and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (r = −0.280, p < 0.05; r = −0.407, p = 0.038; r = −0.445, p = 0.005), respectively. VDD was significantly more prevalent in patients with higher BMI [−0.413 ± 0.12, CI95 % (−0.659; −0.167), p = 0.006], whereas no significant association between hypertension [−1.005 ± 1.65, CI95 % (−4.338; 2.326), p = 0.001], and diabetes type 2 (T2D) [−0.44 ± 2.20, CI95 % (−4.876; 3.986), p = 0.841] was found. We observed significant association between female sex and levels of vitamin D [6.69 ± 2.31, CI95 % (2.06; 11.33), p = 0.006]. The present study shows that in patients scheduled for BS, VDD deficiency is common and was associated with higher BMI, and female sex.

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Association of Vitamin D Status With Liver and Kidney Disease: A Systematic Review of Clinical Trials, and Cross-Sectional and Cohort Studies

International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research ◽

10.1024/0300-9831/a000540 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 1-13 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Seyed Mostafa Parizadeh ◽

Majid Rezayi ◽

Reza Jafarzadeh-Esfehani ◽

Amir Avan ◽

Hamideh Ghazizadeh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Vitamin D ◽

Kidney Disease ◽

Renal Disease ◽

Cohort Studies ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Major Public Health Problem ◽

Vitamin D Status ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Vitamin D Levels

Abstract. Background: Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) is a major public health problem. There are few comprehensive systematic reviews about the relationship between Vitamin D status and liver and renal disease in Iran. Methods: We systemically searched the following databases: Web of Science; PubMed; Cochrane Library; Scopus; Science Direct; Google Scholar and two Iranian databases (Scientific Information Database (SID) and IranMedex) up until November 2017 to identify all randomized control trials (RCTs), case control, cross-sectional and cohort studies investigating the association between vitamin D and any form of liver or kidney disease. Results: Vitamin D insufficiency, or deficiency (VDD), is highly prevalent in Iran, reports varying between 44.4% in Isfahan to 98% in Gorgan. There is also a high prevalence of VDD among patients with liver or kidney disease, and the administration of vitamin D supplements may have beneficial effects on lipid profile, blood glucose, liver function and fatty liver disease, and bone health. Low serum vitamin D levels are related with abnormalities in these laboratory and clinical parameters. Conclusion: VDD is prevalent in patients with chronic liver or renal disease in Iran. There appear to be several beneficial effects of vitamin D supplementation in vitamin D deficient patients with liver or kidney disease.

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