Serum Concentrations of Emerging Vitamin D Biomarkers and Detection of Prevalent High-Risk HPV Infection in Mid-adult Women.

Abstract

Vitamin D has potential immunomodulating benefits in infection. One prior population-based cross-sectional study showed a protective association between serum concentrations of 25(OH)D and high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) detection. Additional biomarkers present at different stages along the vitamin D metabolic pathway may more completely characterize vitamin D status but have not yet been evaluated in relation to hrHPV infection. Stored sera from women aged 30-50 years (N = 404) enrolled in an HPV natural history study from 2011-2012 were tested for 25(OH)D and 4 novel vitamin D biomarkers: 1,25(OH)2D, 24,24(OH)2D3, free vitamin D, and vitamin D-binding protein. Cross-sectional associations between vitamin D serum concentrations and cervicovaginal hrHPV detection were estimated using logistic regression. 25(OH)D serum concentrations were not associated with hrHPV. After adjusting for age, race, season, education, oral contraceptive use, smoking status, body mass index, and serum concentrations of calcium and phosphate, each 1 ng/mL increase in 24,25(OH)2D3 was nearly statistically significantly associated with higher likelihood of hrHPV detection [aOR = 1.22; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.97-1.52]. No significant associations were observed for other biomarkers. 25(OH)D serum concentrations were unassociated with prevalent hrHPV. Higher levels of one novel biomarker, 24,25(OH)2D3, were positively associated with hrHPV, an unexpected finding. Inconsistent with previous findings of a protective association between 25(OH)D and prevalent hrHPV infection, these results suggest serum concentrations of 4 vitamin D biomarkers are unassociated with detection of hrHPV in mid-adult women.