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Is Vitamin D Supplementation Effective in Prevention of Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections in the Pediatrics? A
Alireza Merrikhi1, Elahe Ziaei1, Armindokht Shahsanai1
1Department of Pediatrics, Child Growth and Development Research Center, Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Noncommunicable Disease, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Insights
Vitamin D supplementation did not significantly prevent recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) in children. Further research with higher doses and longer follow-up is recommended for pediatric UTIs.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nephrology
- Nutritional Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) pose a significant health challenge in pediatric populations.
- The role of Vitamin D in immune function suggests potential benefits for UTI prevention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of Vitamin D supplementation in preventing recurrent UTIs among children and adolescents.
Main Methods:
- A randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 68 children with recurrent UTIs.
- Participants received either 1000 IU/daily of Vitamin D or a placebo for six months.
- Serum Vitamin D levels and UTI frequency were monitored before, during, and after the intervention.
Main Results:
- Vitamin D supplementation significantly increased serum Vitamin D levels in the intervention group.
- No significant difference in the frequency of UTIs was observed between the Vitamin D and placebo groups.
- Vitamin D deficiency, insufficiency, and adequacy rates remained comparable between groups post-intervention.
Conclusions:
- The study concluded that Vitamin D supplementation at 1000 IU/daily does not significantly impact the prevention of recurrent UTIs in pediatric patients.
- Higher Vitamin D dosages and extended follow-up periods are suggested for future investigations.
Background:
This study aimed to evaluate the impact of Vitamin D supplementation on prevention of recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) in the pediatrics.
Materials And Methods:
This randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted in 2014 among 68 children and adolescents with recurrent UTI. They were randomly assigned to two groups, receiving either Vitamin D (1000 IU/daily) or placebo for 6 months. The serum concentration of Vitamin D before and after the study and the frequency of UTI during the study were recorded.
Results:
Overall 33 patients in the group of receiving Vitamin D and 32 in the placebo group completed the trial. The mean serum level of Vitamin D had a significant increase in the intervention group (15.80 ± 8.7 vs. 20.56 ± 8.30 ng/mL, P < 0.001) and significant decrease in the placebo group (20.43 ± 13.28 vs. 17.43 ± 9.99 ng/mL, P = 0.041). During the trial, the frequency of UTI was not significantly different between the two groups studied (P = 0.72). Both before and after the trial, the frequency of Vitamin D deficiency, insufficiency, and adequacy was not significantly different within and between groups (P > 0.05).
Conclusion:
The findings of this trial revealed that Vitamin D supplementation with the mentioned dose have not significant impact on preventing recurrent UTI. Future studies with higher doses of Vitamin D and longer follow-up are suggested.
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