Vitamin D Level in Term Neonates and the Incidence of Late-Onset Sepsis

Kapil Dev Sharma, Chiranji Lal Meena, Dhan Raj Bagri, Kailash Kumar Meena, Raksha Katara, Chetna Sharma

Abstract

Background and Aim: Vitamin D deficiency in the early stages of pregnancy is said to cause fetal growth restriction, increase susceptibility to infections, and impair neurodevelopment later in life. A major cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality is sepsis.

The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between vitamin D level and the incidence of late-onset sepsis (LOS) in term neonates.

Materials and Methods: This hospital-based, cross-sectional, analytical study included 45 term neonates in the age range of 72 hours to 28 days of life who were diagnosed with blood culture–proven sepsis (sepsis group) and 45 age-matched, healthy neonates (controls) along with their mothers. The serum vitamin D and calcium levels of all the neonates were measured. A serum vitamin D level of < 20 ng/mL indicated deficiency, levels between 20 ng/mL and 29 ng/mL indicated insufficiency, and levels ≥ 30 ng/mL indicated sufficient vitamin D.

Results: Mean serum calcium level was significantly lower in the sepsis group (8.09 mg/dL) than that in the control group (8.64 mg/dL; P = .001). The vitamin D level was also significantly lower in the sepsis group than that in the control group (20.4 ng/dL vs 25.55 ng/dL; P = .001). Vitamin D deficiency was more prevalent in the sepsis group than in the control group (35.6% vs 4.4%). The vitamin D level in mothers in the sepsis group was also significantly lower (21.63 ng/dL) compared with that in the control group mothers (28.89 ng/dL; P = .001). Vitamin D deficiency was more prevalent in sepsis group mothers than in the control group mothers (46.7% vs 4.4%). A weak positive correlation was found between neonatal and maternal vitamin D levels in the sepsis group (r = 0.350).

Conclusion: The association between vitamin D deficiency and the incidence of LOS in neonates was found to be significant. An insufficient vitamin D level increases the risk of LOS in neonates.