Open Access

Unraveling the roles of vitamin D status and melanin during Covid‑19 (Review)

  • Authors:
    • Polytimi Sidiropoulou
    • Anca Oana Docea
    • Vasiliki Nikolaou
    • Martha-Spyridoula Katsarou
    • Demetrios A. Spandidos
    • Aristidis Tsatsakis
    • Daniela Calina
    • Nikolaos Drakoulis
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: November 30, 2020     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2020.4802
  • Pages: 92-100
  • Copyright: © Sidiropoulou et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

Metrics: Total Views: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )
Total PDF Downloads: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )


Abstract

As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‑19) continues to spread worldwide, it has become evident that the morbidity and mortality rates clearly vary across nations. Although several factors may account for this disparity, striking differences within and between populations indicate that ethnicity might impact COVID‑19 clinical outcomes, reflecting the ‘color of disease’. Therefore, the role of key biological variables that could interplay with viral spreading and severity indices has attracted increasing attention, particularly among non‑Caucasian populations. Although the links between vitamin D status and the incidence and severity of COVID-19 remain elusive, several lines of emerging evidence suggest that vitamin D signaling, targeting several immune‑mediated pathways, may offer potential benefits at different stages of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Given that the vitamin D status is modulated by several intrinsic and extrinsic factors, including skin type (pigmentation), melanin polymers may also play a role in variable COVID‑19 outcomes among diverse population settings. Moreover, apart from the well‑known limiting effects of melanin on the endogenous production of vitamin D, the potential crosstalk between the pigmentary and immune system may also require special attention concerning the current pandemic. The present review article aimed to shed light on a range of mostly overlooked host factors, such as vitamin D status and melanin pigments, that may influence the course and outcome of COVID‑19.
View Figures
View References

Related Articles

Journal Cover

January-2021
Volume 47 Issue 1

Print ISSN: 1107-3756
Online ISSN:1791-244X

Sign up for eToc alerts

Recommend to Library

Copy and paste a formatted citation
x
Spandidos Publications style
Sidiropoulou P, Docea AO, Nikolaou V, Katsarou M, Spandidos DA, Tsatsakis A, Calina D and Drakoulis N: Unraveling the roles of vitamin D status and melanin during Covid‑19 (Review). Int J Mol Med 47: 92-100, 2021
APA
Sidiropoulou, P., Docea, A.O., Nikolaou, V., Katsarou, M., Spandidos, D.A., Tsatsakis, A. ... Drakoulis, N. (2021). Unraveling the roles of vitamin D status and melanin during Covid‑19 (Review). International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 47, 92-100. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2020.4802
MLA
Sidiropoulou, P., Docea, A. O., Nikolaou, V., Katsarou, M., Spandidos, D. A., Tsatsakis, A., Calina, D., Drakoulis, N."Unraveling the roles of vitamin D status and melanin during Covid‑19 (Review)". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 47.1 (2021): 92-100.
Chicago
Sidiropoulou, P., Docea, A. O., Nikolaou, V., Katsarou, M., Spandidos, D. A., Tsatsakis, A., Calina, D., Drakoulis, N."Unraveling the roles of vitamin D status and melanin during Covid‑19 (Review)". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 47, no. 1 (2021): 92-100. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2020.4802