The paper discussed vitamin D status and melanin polymers, possibly related to clinical outcomes of COVID-19. Vitamin D may turn into an effective adjuvant to mitigate the impact of the current pandemic, especially in populations where hypovitaminosis D is prevalent. Although several factors may account for the disparity, striking differences in mortality rates within and between populations indicate that ethnicity might impact COVID-19 clinical outcomes, reflecting the ‘color of disease’. As the pandemic continues to spread worldwide, it has become evident that individuals of different ethnic backgrounds, but sharing a BAME origin appear to be more severely affected by COVID-19 compared to Caucasians. 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. Melanin has limiting effects on the cutaneous biosynthesis of vitamin D, which could negatively affect COVID-19 outcomes. The potential interplay between the pigmentary and immune system may also require special emphasis regarding the current pandemic.
