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Study · Measured the body's own peptide · 2025

2 results

The Immunomodulatory Activity of High Doses of Vitamin D in Critical Care Patients with Severe SARS-CoV-2 Pneumonia-A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Gonçalves AM, Velho S, Rodrigues B, Antunes ML, Cardoso M, Godinho-Santos A, Gonçalves J, Marinho A

Nutrients31 Jan 2025Cited by 3 (Europe PMC)

PMID39940396 (opens in a new tab)PMCIDPMC11820001 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.3390/nu17030540 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-39940396
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Summary

Vitamin D receptor [VDR] expression promotes LL37 expression, possibly contributing to host defense. The hypothesis was that an increase in 25 hydroxyvitamin D [25vitD] could lead to enhanced VDR expression and increased LL-37 production, thereby contributing to improved prognosis in critically ill patients. Methods: A nonblinded, randomized controlled trial was conducted. A total of 207 patients admitted to ICU with severe SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia were included and received different doses of cholecalciferol (500 MU, 3 MU/day, no cholecalciferol) during their ICU and hospital stay. 25vitD levels as well as LL37 and monocytes' VDR gene expression were evaluated on admission and after. Clinical evolution, ICU mortality, hospital mortality, and 60-day mortality were evaluated. Results: The median age was 57.7 years and the majority of patients were Caucasian [87.4%] and male [70.5%]. There was a significant difference in 25vitD levels between groups on the third [p = 0.002] and seventh [p < 0.001] days. Patients supplemented with 500 MU of cholecalciferol had a very significant increase in monocytes' VDR gene expression and showed a better clinical evolution in the ICU, with a significant correlation to evolution factors. Higher LL37 on admission had a significant negative association with hospital and ICU mortality, lost after adjustment for comorbidities to a nearly significant association with ICU, hospital, and 60-day mortality. Conclusion: Supplementation with higher doses of cholecalciferol may contribute to a significant increase in 25vitD levels but not in LL37 levels. Higher LL37 levels on admission may be related to a decrease in ICU, hospital, and 60-day mortality. VDR gene expression in monocytes is much higher in patients supplemented with higher doses of cholecalciferol.
CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study2

No result from this study comes from a test of the peptide.

Natural levels measured2

These results measure the body's own peptide. Nobody was given the peptide. They are not evidence about taking it. They are left out of key results, evidence counts and charts.

  1. 01HumanEndogenous levelRandomized controlled trialOther

    In 207 ICU patients with severe SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia, higher-dose cholecalciferol raised 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels but did not raise LL37 levels.

    In plain wordsIn intensive care patients with severe COVID pneumonia, higher-dose vitamin D did not raise the body's own LL37 levels.

    Peptide
    LL-37
    Outcome
    No significant changeLL37 levels after cholecalciferol supplementation
    Study

    n = 207

    Comparator
    Groups given other cholecalciferol doses or no cholecalciferol
    Outcome group
    Immune response · Immune and inflammation

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Supplementation with higher doses of cholecalciferol may contribute to a significant increase in 25vitD levels but not in LL37 levels.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    A total of 207 patients admitted to ICU with severe SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia were included and received different doses of cholecalciferol (500 MU, 3 MU/day, no cholecalciferol) during their ICU and hospital stay.

    This result measures the body's own LL-37. Nobody was given the peptide. It is not evidence about taking it.

  2. 02HumanEndogenous levelObservational studyOther

    In 207 ICU patients with severe SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia, higher LL37 on admission was associated with lower hospital and ICU mortality, but the association lost significance after adjustment for comorbidities.

    In plain wordsIn ICU patients with severe COVID pneumonia, higher natural LL37 levels on admission were linked to lower mortality, a link that weakened after adjustment.

    Peptide
    LL-37
    Outcome
    DecreaseAssociation of LL37 level on admission with ICU, hospital and 60-day mortality
    Study

    n = 207

    Outcome group
    Mortality · Infection

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Higher LL37 on admission had a significant negative association with hospital and ICU mortality, lost after adjustment for comorbidities to a nearly significant association with ICU, hospital, and 60-day mortality.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    A total of 207 patients admitted to ICU with severe SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia were included

    This result measures the body's own LL-37. Nobody was given the peptide. It is not evidence about taking it.

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

  1. Version 3Current

    9 Oct 2026, 12:39 UTC

    Study results updated

  2. Version 2

    9 Oct 2026, 03:03 UTC

    Study data updated · source update from Europe PMC

  3. Version 1

    9 Oct 2026, 02:56 UTC

    First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

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