The potential effects of vitamin D deficiency on respiratory distress syndrome among preterm infants.

INTRODUCTION: Vitamin D deficiency is one of the most commonly deficient vitamins worldwide. Preterm infants usually suffer from different complications. However, the relationship between vitamin D levels and RDS prevalence has been emerging in the last few years.

AIM: This study aimed to assess the severity of respiratory distress syndrome in preterm infants who are ≤34 weeks GA, with a birth weight of ≤2 kg, and its relation to their serum blood level of vitamin D.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a multicenter study conducted at Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at King Fahad Medical City (KFMC), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and Maternity and Children Hospital (MCH), Qassim, Saudi Arabia. We observed prospectively all preterm babies who were ≤34 weeks GA with 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) serum level ≤30 ng/ml at 24 h of life or less. Included infants were divided into 2 groups; infants with 25-hydroxyvitamin D level of ≤30 ng/ml were the deficient group and those with >30 ng/ml were considered in the normal group.

RESULTS: 174 preterm infants were included in this study with an average gestational age of 30.2 ± 2.7 weeks. The mean vitamin D level was 30.5 (SD 19.5). Vitamin D deficiency was detected among 99 infants (56.9%). Of the deficient infants, 26.3% were severe, 42.4% moderate and 31.3% were mild. Pneumothorax was 2.9% and mortality rates were recorded among 14 cases (8%).

CONCLUSION: Vitamin D deficiency was widely prevalent among preterm neonates. Pneumothorax, surfactant doses, oxygen, and mechanical ventilation requirements were statistically significant at vitamin D deficiency.