Korean J Pediatr.  2017 Aug;60(8):248-253. 10.3345/kjp.2017.60.8.248.

Effects of cord blood vitamin D levels on the risk of neonatal sepsis in premature infants

• Say B
• Uras N
• Sahin S
• Degirmencioglu H
• Oguz SS
• Canpolat F

• KMID: 2390502
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3345/kjp.2017.60.8.248

Abstract

PURPOSE
Vitamin D plays a key role in immune function. Vitamin D deficiency may play a role in the pathogenesis of infections, and low levels of circulating vitamin D are strongly associated with infectious diseases. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of low vitamin D levels in cord blood on neonatal sepsis in preterm infants.
METHODS
One hundred seventeen premature infants with gestational age of <37 weeks were enrolled. In the present study, severe vitamin D deficiency (group 1) was defined as a 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentration <5 ng/mL; vitamin D insufficiency (group 2), 25(OH)D concentration ≥5 ng/mL and <15 ng/mL; and vitamin D sufficiency (group 3), 25(OH)D concentration ≥15 ng/mL.
RESULTS
Sixty-three percent of the infants had deficient levels of cord blood vitamin D (group 1), 24% had insufficient levels (group 2), and 13% were found to have sufficient levels (group 3). The rate of neonatal sepsis was higher in group 2 than in groups 1 and 3.
CONCLUSION
There was no significant relationship between the cord blood vitamin D levels and the risk of neonatal sepsis in premature infants.

Keyword

Early onset sepsis; Cord vitamin D level; Late onset sepsis; Preterm infants

MeSH Terms

Communicable Diseases
Fetal Blood*
Gestational Age
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Infant, Premature*
Sepsis*
Vitamin D Deficiency
Vitamin D*
Vitamins*
Vitamin D
Vitamins