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Vitamin Deficiencies Are Both Risk Factors and Protective Against Diverse Urogenital and Intestinal Infections in Pregnant Ngabe Women from Panama
Author(s) -
Scott Marilyn E,
GonzalezFernandez Doris,
Murillo Enrique,
Sinisterra Odalis,
Koski Kristine G
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.27.1_supplement.1061.4
Subject(s) - bacterial vaginosis , medicine , micronutrient , physiology , population , trichomoniasis , vaginitis , gastroenterology , immunology , obstetrics , gynecology , environmental health , pathology
We enrolled 213 pregnant Ngabe women in a cross‐sectional study in Western Panama. Clinical diagnosis was done for respiratory, oral, skin and vaginal infections, along with laboratory diagnosis of infections in urine, fecal and vaginal samples. Serum blood samples were analyzed for concentrations of Vitamins A, D, B 12 , folate and ferritin. The most common infections were bacterial vaginosis (BV) (91%), hookworm (57%), asymptomatic bacteriuria (AB) (56%), Ascaris (33%), candidiasis (25%), dental caries (20%), scabies (17%), and trichomoniasis (17%). Vitamin deficiencies were also common: B 12 (85%), ferritin (83%), D (65%), A (41%), folate (24%); 13% of women had 4 of the 5 deficiencies. Multiple regression analysis revealed that Ascaris intensity was positively associated with gingivitis, fungal infections of the skin and vaginal tract, and AB (adjusted R 2 = 0.23) but not with any of the micronutrients. The severity of BV was elevated in those with vitamin deficiencies (D, folic acid, low hemoglobin) but was reduced by vaginal candidiasis. Surprisingly, high vitamin D, folic acid and hemoglobin were protective against severe trichomoniasis after controlling for the effect of other infections. These results highlight the mix of synergistic and antagonistic associations among infections and micronutrient deficiencies in this vulnerable population. Funded by SENACYT (Panama) and McGill Vitamin Fund