Serum IL-6 and IL-18 Responses in Pediatric COVID-19: Role of Vitamin D Status in a Cohort from Azerbaijan

BackgroundThis study investigated the effects of COVID-19 infection and vitamin D status on inflammatory cytokine levels in children during the pandemic. A cohort of 170 children aged 1-17 years with PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection was enrolled. Serum levels of IL-6 and IL-18 were analyzed in relation to vitamin D status and COVID-19 diagnosis. Our analysis revealed that children with vitamin D deficiency exhibited a trend toward increased levels of IL-6 and IL-18 compared to those with normal vitamin D levels; however, this association did not reach statistical significance. In contrast, COVID-19 infection was associated with significantly higher cytokine levels relative to healthy controls. These findings suggest a potential modulatory role of vitamin D in pediatric inflammatory responses to SARS-CoV-2, meriting further investigation through prospective studies.