OBJECTIVES: To examine whether there is any association between serum levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH) vitamin D) and the recurrence of urinary tract infections (UTIs) among premenopausal women.
METHODS: During a period of 3 years, 93 premenopausal women with a medical history of recurrent UTIs were enrolled from the Infectious Diseases Unit. Cases with recurrent UTIs were compared to 93 age-matched (±5 years) women with no history of recurrent UTI (control group), in terms of serum 25(OH) vitamin D and different risk factors for recurrent UTI. Recurrent UTI was defined as three or more episodes of UTI over a 12-month period.
RESULTS: The mean age of women with recurrent UTIs was 43.8±9 years and of controls was 39±10 years (p=0.839). The mean serum levels of 25(OH) vitamin D among women with recurrent UTIs were significantly lower than those of controls (9.8 ng/ml ± 4 vs. 23 ng/ml ± 6; p< 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that a serum 25(OH) vitamin D level of < 15 ng/ml (odds ratio 4.00, 95% confidence interval 3.40-4.62; p=0.001) was associated with recurrent UTIs in premenopausal women.
CONCLUSIONS: In this retrospective study, we found that recurrent UTIs in premenopausal women are associated with vitamin D deficiency.
Written by:
Nseir W, Taha M, Nemarny H, Mograbi J. Are you the author?
Department of Internal Medicine, EMMS Nazareth, The Nazareth Hospital, Nazareth, Israel; Infectious Diseases Unit, EMMS Nazareth, The Nazareth Hospital, Nazareth, Israel; Faculty of Medicine in the Galilee, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel.
Reference: Int J Infect Dis. 2013 Aug 1. pii: S1201-9712(13)00219-1.
doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2013.06.007
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 23911156
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