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Are vitamin D levels affected by acute bacterial infections in children?
Author(s) -
Binfield Alex,
Aird Carolyn,
Murdoch David R,
Elder Peter,
Walls Tony
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of paediatrics and child health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.631
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1440-1754
pISSN - 1034-4810
DOI - 10.1111/jpc.12620
Subject(s) - medicine , vitamin d and neurology , vitamin d deficiency , vitamin , pediatrics , gastroenterology
Aims Vitamin D deficiency is associated with infectious diseases; however, it is not known whether vitamin D levels are affected by acute infection. Our aim was to establish whether 25‐hydroxyvitamin D (25 OHD ) levels taken during an acute bacterial infection are representative of baseline levels. Methods Thirty children between 6 months and 15 years of age with proven bacterial infections presenting to a tertiary paediatric referral centre had 25 OHD levels taken during their acute infection and again 1 month later provided that they had recovered from their infection, had no subsequent infections and had not been taking vitamin supplements. 25 OHD levels were measured by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. Results Mean 25 OHD at enrolment was 67.5 nmol/L (standard deviation ( SD ) 22.0), and mean 25 OHD at 1 month follow up was 72.7 nmol/L ( SD 25.8) (paired t ‐test P = 0.25). C‐reactive protein levels were recorded in 29/30 patients at enrolment (mean 85.1 mg/L, SD 83.5) and 25/30 patients at follow‐up (mean 4.0 mg/L, SD 3.3) (paired t ‐test P = 0.002). The ethnicity of the participants was N ew Z ealand E uropean or E uropean O ther, 26; S amoan, 2; M aori, 1; and C hinese, 1. Conclusions In children, 25 OHD levels are not affected by acute bacterial infections; 25 OHD levels taken during acute bacterial infection are representative of baseline levels. 25 OHD levels collected during acute bacterial infection provide reliable information for case‐control studies.