Association of Vitamin D Deficiency with Acute Lower Respiratory Infection in Toddlers

Abstract

Introduction: Pneumonia remains a significant health problem in India with significant morbidity and mortality. Objectives of this study were to identifying an effective nutritional agent that reduces the need for antibiotics, duration of pneumonia and length of hospitalization would be highly cost-beneficial.Material and Methods: This was a hospital-based case-control study: A total of 100 children including 50 cases and 50 controls, aged 2–60 months, were enrolled. Case definition of severe ALRI as given by the World Health Organization was used for cases. Controls were healthy children attending outpatients’ service for immunization or admitted for minor ailments other than ALRTI.Results: Mean 25(OH)D concentrations in children of the study group were lower than those of the control group (20.431 ng/mL vs. 27.67 ng/mL; p = 0.035). Factors significantly associated with decreased risk of ALRTI in univariate analysis were: exclusive breastfeeding in the first 6 months (cases 13/50 (26%), controls 42/50 (84%); p=0.000); adequate exposure to sunlight (cases 14/50 (28%), controls 42/50 (84%); P=0.000); and serum 25OHD3 <20 ng/ml (cases 28/50 (56%), controls 0/50 (0%); p=.000). Multivariate logistic model indicated that severe vitamin D deficiency (OR=NA), exclusive breast feeding (OR=.174); 95% CI (.061- .521; p=.002) and adequate sunlight exposure (OR=.179) ;95%CI (.062-.519); p=.002) were significant independent predictive risk factors for ALRTI among the children between 2 months – 5 years of age (all p<0.05).Conclusion: Severe vitamin D deficiency (<20ng/ml), nonexclusive breastfeeding in the first six months of life, inadequate sun exposure were significant risk factors for ALRTI in Indian children.J Nepal Paediatr Soc 2016;36(1):14-18

The Role of Micronutrients in Support of the Immune Response against Viral Infections

“…We searched PubMed using keywords such as “vitamin D” and “lower respiratory tract infections” or “viral infections,” focusing on studies on pediatric populations, including both observational studies and clinical trials. Numerous studies investigated the association between low levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and increased susceptibility to LRTI in childhood, as listed in Table 4 [ 124 , 125 , 126 , 127 , 128 , 129 , 130 , 131 , 132 , 133 , 134 , 135 , 136 , 137 , 138 , 139 , 140 , 141 , 142 , 143 , 144 , 145 , 146 ].…”

Problems related to acute respiratory infection among under-5 children in Sorong, West Papua: a community diagnosis approach

“…[8][9][10][11] Reduced duration of skin exposure to the sun during the rainy season also reduces vitamin D intake, and vitamin D deficiency has been known to disrupt the body's antimicrobial system, thus increasing the risk of ARIs. 12 However, this study only collected data during the rainy season, so there is no data on the proportion of inter-season ARIs proportions.…”

Association of serum vitamin D levels and transient tachypnea of newborn: a case control study

“…Vitamin D also has a role in prevention of acute lower respiratory infections in toddlers. 16 The bronchial epithelium can convert the precursor 25(OH)D3 to local active 1,25(OH)2D3, which reduces the production of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines and enhances the synthesis of antimicrobial peptides.…”

“…15 Low vitamin D levels has also been considered as one of the risk factor for respiratory distress syndrome. 16 Moreover, in fetal rat lung, vitamin D increases the synthesis and secretion of surfactant lipids and proteins in alveolar type II cells. 17,18 As role of vitamin D in TTN has not been studied much, so we conducted present study in our hospital to find the association between serum vitamin D levels and TTN.…”