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Vitamin D in acutely ill patients
Ifigenia Kostoglou-Athanassiou1, Eleni Pantazi2, Sofoklis Kontogiannis3
11 Department of Endocrinology, Asclepeion Hospital, Athens, Greece.
The Journal of International Medical Research
|August 31, 2018
Summary
Vitamin D (25(OH)D3) levels were significantly lower in critically ill patients compared to healthy individuals. Lower vitamin D was inversely related to inflammation markers but not survival.
Area of Science:
- Critical Care Medicine
- Endocrinology
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Vitamin D deficiency is common in critically ill patients.
- The role of vitamin D in critical illness is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)D3) levels in acutely ill ICU patients.
- To determine the relationship between 25(OH)D3 levels and patient survival.
- To explore the association between 25(OH)D3 and inflammatory markers.
Main Methods:
- A cohort study comparing 50 acutely ill ICU patients with 50 healthy controls.
- Measurement of serum 25(OH)D3 using enzyme immunoassay.
- Measurement of C-reactive protein and procalcitonin using immunoassays.
Main Results:
- Acutely ill patients had significantly lower mean 25(OH)D3 levels (11.74 ng/ml) than controls (24.66 ng/ml).
- 25(OH)D3 levels did not correlate with patient survival.
- Inverse relationships were observed between 25(OH)D3 and C-reactive protein, and a weaker inverse relationship with procalcitonin.
Conclusions:
- Critically ill patients admitted to the ICU exhibit decreased 25(OH)D3 levels.
- 25(OH)D3 levels may be inversely associated with inflammatory markers like C-reactive protein and procalcitonin.
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