Lower serum levels of vitamin D in adults with urinary tract infection

Abstract

Purpose: We aimed to explore the association between urinary tract infection (UTI) in adults and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD), which was used to access vitamin D status.

Methods: Serum levels of 25OHD were retrospectively analyzed in 234 subjects (190 females and 44 males): 120 UTI patients (females = 103) and 114 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (females = 87). Serum 25OHD concentrations were categorized as follows: (1) < 20 ng/mL, 20 to < 30 ng/mL, and ≥ 30 ng/mL; (2) < 20 ng/mL and ≥ 20 ng/mL.

Results: Serum 25OHD levels were lower in patients with UTI (p < 0.01). Women with UTI presented significantly lower 25OHD concentrations than those without UTI (p < 0.01). No association between serum 25OHD levels and UTI in men was found (p > 0.05). The multivariable logistic regression models showed significant associations between UTI and 25OHD, female sex, neutrophilic lymphocyte ratio and C-reactive protein (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Lower 25OHD concentrations associated with UTI were most prominent among women. The associations between UTI and low serum 25OHD levels as well as female sex were independent of each other.

Keywords: Adults; Deficiency; Urinary tract infection; Vitamin D.