The Evaluation of the Effect of Vitamin D Levels on Neonatal Sepsis in Very Low Birth Weight Infants

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the association between 25-hydroxy vitamin D [25 (OH)D] levels and early- and late-onset sepsis in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. Methods: This study was conducted between November 2016 and November 2017. VLBW of infants below the 32nd gestational week were included in the study. Serum 25 (OH)D levels were measured on the 1st day and after one week. The infants' demographic data such as gender and gestational week, birth weight, maternal age, presence of early and late sepsis, mechanical ventilation duration, length of hospital stay, and mortality rate were recorded. esults: Sixty-six newborns followed up in the neonatal intensive care unit of our hospital were enrolled in this study. The median value of 25 (OH)D level on the 1st day was 18.2 (5.2-28.0) ng/mL and the median value of 25 (OH)D after the first week was 15.5 (7.5-37.8) ng/mL. A significant correlation was found between low sepsis and 25 (OH)D levels (<20 ng/mL) measured on the first day (r=-0.557, p=0.003). Conclusion: There was a significant association between early sepsis and low 25 (OH)D levels measured on the first day. In addition, significant correlations were found between vitamin D deficiency and duration of hospitalization. However, more studies are needed to reach a definite conclusion on this issue.

Keywords

• vitamin d
• 25 (oh)d
• neonatal sepsis
• very low birth weight