Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 28, 2026
09:12
A Protein Microarray Assay for Serological Determination of Antigen-specific Antibody Responses Following Clostridium difficile Infection
Published on: June 15, 2018
10.5K
25-Hydroxyvitamin D Concentrations and Clostridium difficile Infection: A Meta-Analysis
Luis Furuya-Kanamori1, Kinley Wangdi1, Laith Yakob2
11 Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
JPEN. Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition
|December 25, 2015
Summary
Low vitamin D levels (25-hydroxyvitamin D) are linked to a higher risk of developing Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). Lower vitamin D status also increases the likelihood of severe CDI, but not recurrence.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Nutritional Science
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is a significant healthcare-associated infection.
- Established risk factors include antibiotic use and gastric acid suppressants.
- Emerging evidence suggests a potential link between vitamin D deficiency and CDI risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a meta-analysis pooling existing evidence on the association between 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) levels and CDI.
- To investigate the relationship between 25[OH]D status and CDI severity and recurrence.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search across PubMed, Embase, and Web of Sciences databases.
- Inclusion of eight epidemiological studies with a total of 4479 patients.
- Meta-analysis using the inverse variance heterogeneity model to calculate pooled effect sizes.
Main Results:
- Patients with CDI had significantly lower mean 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations (3.54 ng/mL lower) compared to controls.
- Lower 25(OH)D status (<20 ng/mL) was associated with a 1.61-fold increased odds of developing severe CDI.
- No significant association was observed between 25(OH)D status and CDI recurrence.
Conclusions:
- Lower mean 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations are associated with Clostridium difficile infection.
- Vitamin D deficiency is a risk factor for severe CDI, highlighting its potential role in disease pathogenesis.
- Vitamin D status does not appear to influence the recurrence of CDI.
