Comparison of the level of vitamin D in preterm infected and uninfected infants

Abstract

Introduction: Despite the substantial progress in intensive cares, sepsis is still an important cause of neonatal mortality. Given the role of vitamin D in infection control; therfore, this study was conducted to compare vitamin D level in infected and uninfected preterm infants.
 Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 87 preterm infants(45 infected infants and 42 uninfected infants) hospitalized in Mashhad Ghaem Hospital,Iran, during 2015-2017. . The subjects were selected by using convenience sampling. . The infected infants (n=45) included babies with clinical and laboratory findings compatible with infection and/or positive blood or cerebrospinal fluid cultures. The serum levels vitamin D were measured in all infants. A researcher-made questionnaire containing demographic, clinical and laboratory features of infants was used. In addition, independent t-test and chi-square test were applied. SPSS was used to perform the statistical data analysis. .
 Results: 83% of infants had Vitamin D deficiency 34.5%, 26.4%, and 21.8% of whom exhibited severe (less than 10ngml), moderate (10.1-20ngml), mild deficiency (20.1-30ngml), respectively. The mean vitamin D level of infants was 23.319.40ng/ml in the control group and 11.028.64ng/ml in the case group (P=0.000). In the case group, the mean vitamin D was 8.145.53ngml in early sepsis and 12.629.75ngml in late-onset sepsis (P=0.121). 95% of infected infants and 71% of uninfected infants had vitamin D less than 30ngml (P=0.003).
 Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency is very common in preterm infants. Serum vitamin D levels in infants with sepsis were lower than those in uninfected infants. Therefore, the correction of Vitamin D deficiency may contribute to better control of neonatal infection.