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Does vitamin D deficiency predispose to allergic proctocolitis?
Ozlem Akbulut1, Burcu Tahire Köksal2, Beril Aydın1
1Department of Pediatrics, Medical Faculty, Baskent University, Ankara, Turkey.
Insights
Infants with allergic proctocolitis (AP) have lower vitamin D (vit D) levels. Low vit D is linked to a higher risk of developing AP, suggesting a potential association and the need for assessment.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
- Nutritional Science
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Rising global prevalence of allergic diseases, including allergic proctocolitis (AP), in infants.
- Increased awareness of vitamin D (vit D) deficiency and its potential role in immune-mediated conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate vitamin D (vit D) levels in infants diagnosed with allergic proctocolitis (AP).
- To explore a potential relationship between vitamin D status and the development of AP in infants.
Main Methods:
- Prospective, observational, case-control study design.
- Inclusion of infants aged 6 months and younger: 72 with AP and 44 healthy controls.
- Comparison of serum vitamin D levels at diagnosis between AP patients and controls.
Main Results:
- Significantly lower vitamin D levels observed in infants with AP compared to healthy controls.
- Vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency noted in 34.7% of infants with AP.
- Infants with vitamin D levels below 40.75 mcg/L had a 3.5 times higher risk of developing AP.
Conclusions:
- Lower vitamin D levels in infants with AP support an association between vitamin D deficiency and the condition.
- Findings may offer insights into environmental factors contributing to the increasing prevalence of AP.
- Recommendation for routine assessment of vitamin D levels in infants diagnosed with AP.
Objectives:
Awareness of vitamin D (vit D) deficiency or insufficiency has increased alongside the rising prevalence of allergic diseases worldwide. We aimed to evaluate vit D levels in infants with allergic proctocolitis (AP) to explore a possible relationship between AP and vit D status.
Methods:
This prospective, observational, case-control study was conducted between January 2020 and December 2023, including infants aged 6 months and younger diagnosed with AP (AP group) and healthy infants of the same age (control group). Vit D levels in AP patients at the time of diagnosis were compared with those of healthy infants.
Results:
A total of 116 patients (72 AP, 44 control) were included in the study. Statistically significant differences were found in vit D levels, eosinophil count, and eosinophil percentage between the groups. Vit D was deficient or insufficient in 34.7% of AP patients. Vit D levels were significantly lower in infants with AP, and the risk of developing AP was 3.5 times higher in infants whose vit D levels were below 40.75 mcg/L.
Conclusions:
Our finding that vit D levels are lower in infants with AP compared to healthy infants may support an association between AP and vit D deficiency. This could also provide insight into the increasing prevalence of AP linked to environmental factors. We recommend that vit D levels be assessed in infants with AP at the time of diagnosis.
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