• Maria O'Sullivan, Caoimhe Moran, Tomás P Griffin, Helen Doheny, Daniel Ma McCartney, and Paula M O'Shea.
• School of Biological, Health and Sports Sciences, Technological University Dublin - City Campus, Central Quad, Dublin 7, Grangegorman, D07 XT95, Ireland. osullivan.maria0@gmail.com.
• Ir J Med Sci. 2024 Apr 1; 193 (2): 106110711061-1071.

ObjectiveIdentify the impact of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions on the vitamin D status of individuals in the west of Ireland.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingAdults who had wintertime serum 25(OH)D analysis completed in Galway University Hospital.ParticipantsA total of 16,725 participants (2015-2020 (n = 13,449) and 2020-2021 (n = 3276)). Baseline demographics; sex, age, origin of the sample and the date of sample collection.ResultsMedian serum vitamin D and serum vitamin D3 concentrations were higher in the 5-month period from October-February 2020-2021 (61 nmol/L (± 36-85 nmol/L) and 60 nmol/L (± 34-85 nmol/L)) respectively, than for the corresponding 5-month period (October-February) in 2015-2020 (53 nmol/L (± 32-78 nmol/L) and 51 nmol/L (± 30-77 nmol/L)) respectively. These changes coincided with a decline in the prevalence of deficiency. In the 5-month period October-February 2020-2021, 19.2% of the population were vitamin D deficient (< 30 nmol/L) compared to 22.5% in the corresponding 5-month period in 2015-2020, and 38.1% were vitamin D deficient (< 50 nmol/L) in the 5-month period October-February 2020-2021 compared to 46.6% in the corresponding 5-month period in 2015-2020. Males were more likely to be deficient at both thresholds (p < 0.001). For the total cohort, at the < 30 nmol/L threshold, inpatients (25.5%) and nursing home residents (34.1%) had higher prevalence of deficiency.ConclusionsVitamin D levels were higher in the 5-month period of October-February 2020-2021, and this precipitated a decline in deficiency at both thresholds, indicating that lockdown coincided with enhanced vitamin D status. We postulate that it may be attributable to changes in diet and/or supplementation, or increased sun exposure, but further confirmatory studies are required.© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland.

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