Role of Vitamin-D Deficiency in Term Neonates with Late-Onset Sepsis: A Case-Control Study

Lower Vitamin D Level as a Risk Factor for Late Onset Neonatal Sepsis: An Observational Case-Control Study

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study is to investigate the relation of neonatal and maternal vitamin D and late-onset sepsis (LOS).

STUDY DESIGN

One-hundred twenty term neonates along with their mothers were enrolled in this case-control study. Sixty neonates who were admitted in the neonatal intensive care unit by LOS and had not been previously admitted for last 48 hours and did not receive antibiotics or vitamin D were enrolled as cases (sepsis) group. On the other hand, 60 healthy term neonates were referred as control group. Maternal and neonatal serum 25-OH vitamin D levels were assessed in both the cohorts.

RESULTS

Maternal and neonatal 25-OH vitamin D levels in cases (17.2 and 16.1 ng/mL, respectively) were significantly lower than in controls (22.7 and 21 ng/mL, respectively) p = 0.001. In the study group, the neonatal 25-OH vitamin D was negatively correlated with C-reactive protein and length of hospital stay (r = -0.616 and -0.596, respectively) p <0.001 for both. With a cut-off value of 12.9 ng/mL, the specificity and positive predictive value of neonatal vitamin D were 83.3 and 74.4%, respectively. The odds ratio was 1.088 (95% CI = 1.034-1.144)) for LOS in vitamin D-deficient neonates.

CONCLUSION

Neonates with higher vitamin D level are at lower risk of LOS than those with vitamin D deficiency. Maternal vitamin D correlates with neonatal vitamin D. These data suggest that maternal vitamin supplementation during pregnancy may lower the risk of LOS.

KEY POINTS

· Neonatal and maternal vitamin D deficiency increase risk of LOS.. · Neonatal vitamin D correlates with maternal vitamin D.. · Neonatal vitamin D is independent predictor for LOS..

High burden of hypovitaminosis D among the children and adolescents in South Asia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Vitamin D is vital for the growth and development of children. While deficiency and/or insufficiency of vitamin D among South Asian children are frequently reported in the literature, the lack of a meta-analysis has left its true extent poorly characterized. In this study, we aimed to conduct a systematic review and perform meta-analyses of the prevalence of hypovitaminosis D among the children of the South Asian countries.

Methods

Two major electronic search engines (PubMed and Scopus) and one database (Google scholar) were used; original studies, conducted among South Asian children and adolescents and published between 1 January 2001 and 31 December 2019. A random-effect meta-analysis was also performed to calculate the pooled prevalence of hypovitaminosis D followed by subgroup analyses for countries and age groups.

Results

After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 41 studies with a total population size of 18,233 were finally selected. The overall prevalence of hypovitaminosis D was 61% [95% CI: 46% to 71%] with highly significant heterogeneity (I² = 99.72%; p < 0.0001). The average level of serum vitamin D ranged from 5 ng/mL to 34 ng/mL, with a weighted mean of 19.15 ng/mL (weighted standard deviation 11.59 ng/mL). Country-wise analysis showed that hypovitaminosis D in Afghanistan was the highest [96.2%; 95% CI: 91% to 99%], followed by Pakistan [94%; 95% CI: 90% to 96%], India [64%; 95% CI: 46% to 79%], Bangladesh [35.48%; 95% CI: 32% to 39%], Nepal [35%; 95% CI: 1% to 83%], and Sri Lanka [25%; 95% CI: 16% to 36%]. Age group analyses revealed that hypovitaminosis D was most prevalent among neonates [85%; 95% CI: 76% to 91%], followed by school-going children [57%; 95% CI: 33% to 80%], and preschool children [55%; 95% CI: 35% to 75%].

Conclusion

This study generates quantitative evidence and specific extent of hypovitaminosis D in the South Asian countries as a public health concern. Being the first systematic review for this region, results from this study will create awareness and will facilitate adopting mitigation strategies by the policymakers and the governments to address this problem.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s41043-022-00287-w.

The Role of Low 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Levels in Preterm Infants with Late-Onset Sepsis

IntroductionWe investigated the association between low 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) levels and late-onset sepsis (LOS) in preterm infants (<37 weeks). Methods: Infants with culture-proven LOS were the study group, infants without LOS were the controls. 25-OHD levels were compared between these groups. Low vitamin D was defined as 25-OHD ≤15 ng/ml. Maternal 25-OHD levels were compared to their infant's level. Results: 108 infants were included. The study group was significantly younger (p = 0.02) with significantly lower 25-OHD levels (p < 0.001). Multivariable logistic regression analyses revealed that infants with low 25-OHD levels were 7.159 (95%CI: 1.402-36.553, p = 0.018) times more likely to develop LOS. A positive correlation was detected between maternal and neonatal 25-OHD levels for both study and control groups (r = 0.425, p = 0.009; r = 0.739, p < 0.001, respectively). Conclusions: Low 25-OHD levels are associated with an increased risk of developing LOS development in preterm infants.

Vitamin D status was associated with sepsis in critically ill children: A PRISMA compliant systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Sepsis leads to the high mortality in critically ill infants and children. It is still controversial whether vitamin D deficiency was associated with the incidence of sepsis. Thus we designed the systematic review and meta-analysis.

METHODS

The Ovid Medline, Embase, PubMed, and Cochrane library were systematically searched until April 5, 2020. The 25 hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) level was recorded and set 20 ng/mL as cut-off in cohort study to divide the lower and higher 25-OHD group. The odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for comparing the impact of vitamin D deficiency on the incidence of sepsis in critically ill children.

RESULTS

A total of 27 studies were included with 17 case-control studies and 10 cohort studies. In those case-control studies, the maternal 25-OHD level and neonatal 25-OHD level in sepsis group was significant lower than non-sepsis group (P < .001). The percentage of severe vitamin D deficiency was significant higher in sepsis group comparing to non-sepsis group (odds ratio [OR] = 2.66, 95% CI = 1.13-6.25, P < .001). In those cohort studies, the incidence of sepsis in lower 25-OHD group was 30.4% comparing with 18.2% in higher 25-OHD level group. However, no statistical significant difference in terms of mechanical ventilation rate and 30-day mortality.

CONCLUSION

We demonstrated that critically ill infants and children with sepsis could have a lower 25-OHD level and severe vitamin D deficiency comparing to those without sepsis. Future studies should focus on the association of vitamin D supplement and the occurrence of sepsis in critically ill children.

Effects of vitamin D on neonatal sepsis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Vitamin D deficiency is a major public health concern of pregnant women and neonates worldwide, affecting more than half of neonates. Studies report inconsistent and inconclusive effects of vitamin D treatment on neonatal sepsis. This study aimed to provide conclusive evidence regarding the effect of maternal and cord blood vitamin D levels on neonatal sepsis. Data were retrieved from the electronic database (Web of Science, Scopus, CINAHL [EBSCOhost], ProQuest, EMBASE [Ovid], PubMed, Emcare, MEDLINE [Ovid], and gray literature sources [World cat, Mednar, Google scholar and Google]). Joanna Briggs Institute quality assessment tool was utilized for quality assessment while analysis was performed using Open Meta-analyst, Comprehensive Meta-analysis version 3.3.070, and Review Manager version 5.3 software. From the 18 studies included in the study, the overall prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among neonates was 61% (95% CI: 44.3, 77.7); 79.4% (95% CI: 71.6, 87.3) of neonates with sepsis were vitamin D deficient as were 43.7% (23.4, 63.9) of sepsis-free neonates. Neonates born from mothers with low vitamin D levels were at greater risk of developing neonatal sepsis with a weighed mean difference of -8.57 ng/ml (95% CI: -13.09, -4.05). Similarly, neonates with low cord vitamin D levels were at risk for neonatal sepsis with a mean difference of -8.78 ng/ml (95% CI:-11.58, -5.99). The incidence of EONS in full-term newborns was significantly associated with low maternal and cord blood vitamin D levels with weighed mean differences of -11.55ng/ml (95% CI: -17.63, -5.46) & -11.59 ng/ml (95% CI:-16.65, -6.53), respectively. Low levels of vitamin D both in the cord blood and maternal blood were significantly associated with neonatal sepsis. Hence, vitamin D supplementation for pregnant women and newborns could decrease neonatal sepsis.