Cord blood vitamin D levels and its relationship to early-onset sepsis in the very low birth weight infants

Abstract

Objective To investigate the association between serum 25(OH)D levels and the incidence of early-onset sepsis(EOS) in the very low birth weight infants(VLBWI) and the gestational age below 34 weeks. Methods The cord blood of 159 VLBWI were collected between January and December 2017, including 31 clinically diagnosed EOS and 128 non-EOS patients.Serum 25(OH)D 30 ng/ml as vitamin D sufficiency. Results There were no differences in gender, gestational age, birth weight and Apgar score between the EOS group and the non-EOS group(P>0.05). Serum 25(OH)D was(9.08±4.21)ng/ml in the EOS group and(11.91±5.37)ng/ml in the non-EOS group(P=0.007). The rate of severe vitamin D deficiency was 67.7%(21/31)in the EOS group and 41.4%(53/128) in the non-EOS group.The rate of vitamin D deficiency was 32.3%(10/31)in the EOS group and 52.3%(67/128)in the non-EOS group.But there was no difference of vitamin D deficiency distribution in the two groups(P=0.152). The cut-off value of serum 25(OH)D level in predicting EOS was 10.06 ng/ml. Conclusion The incidence of vitamin D deficiency is as high as 95%, calling for urgent attention on vitamin D supplementation in those VLBWI.Low 25(OH)D level(<10 ng/ml)might be predictive of EOS. Key words: Preterm; Very low birth weight infants; Early-onset sepsis; 25-hydroxy-vitamin D