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Relationship between low serum vitamin D status and urinary tract infection in children: a case-control study
Hashem Mahmoudzadeh1, Ahmad Ali Nikibakhsh1, Sarvin Pashapour1
1Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences , Urmia, Iran.
Insights
Children with low vitamin D levels have a higher risk of urinary tract infections (UTI). This study found significantly lower vitamin D levels in children with UTI compared to healthy controls.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Nutritional Immunology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Emerging evidence suggests a link between vitamin D deficiency and increased susceptibility to infections.
- Vitamin D plays a crucial role in immune system regulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between vitamin D deficiency and the occurrence of urinary tract infections (UTI) in children.
- To determine if lower vitamin D levels are a risk factor for UTI in pediatric populations.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study involving 75 children aged 2-7 years with UTI and 75 age-matched healthy controls.
- Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels were quantified using a chemiluminescence assay.
- Dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) renal scan was employed to differentiate between cystitis and pyelonephritis in UTI cases.
Main Results:
- Children with UTI exhibited significantly lower median serum 25(OH)D levels (14.5 ng/mL) compared to healthy controls (27 ng/mL).
- The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (levels <20 ng/mL) was substantially higher in children with UTI (68%) versus controls (18%).
- A statistically significant difference in mean serum 25(OH)D levels was observed between cystitis and pyelonephritis groups.
Conclusions:
- Low serum vitamin D levels are significantly associated with an increased risk of urinary tract infections in children.
- These findings support the hypothesis that vitamin D deficiency may predispose children to developing UTIs.
Background:
A link between vitamin D deficiency and susceptibility to bacterial and viral infections has recently been suggested.
Aim:
To investigate a possible association between vitamin D deficiency and urinary tract infection (UTI).
Methods:
A case-control study was undertaken comprising 75 children aged 2-7 years with UTI (cases) compared with 75 healthy controls in terms of serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels. Serum 25(OH)D levels were measured using a chemiluminescence assay. For cases, dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) renal scan was used as the gold standard to distinguish between acute lower UTI (cystitis) and acute pyelonephritis.
Results:
Median (IQR) 25(OH)D levels were lower in the UTI group [14.5 ng/mL (9.4-18.8)] than in the controls [27 ng/mL (22.4-39.0)] (p< 0.001). In addition, the prevalence of 25(OH)D levels <20 ng/mL was higher in the children with UTI than in the controls (68% vs 18%) (p< 0.001). There was a statistically significant difference between the cystitis and pyelonephritis groups in mean (SD) serum 25(OH)D levels-18.76 (9.35) ng/mL vs 13.94 (6.97) ng/mL, p< 0.05, respectively.
Conclusion:
Low serum vitamin D is associated with UTI and supports the hypothesis that children with low vitamin D levels could be at greater risk of UTI.
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