Background: The goal of this study was to evaluate the relationship between maternal 25-OH Vitamin D serum levels and neonatal early-onset sepsis in newborns by the effective factors.
Methods: A case-control study was done and 64 neonates hospitalized in Akbar Abadi Hospital (Tehran- Iran; 2016) and their mothers were enrolled. The case group consisted of 32 NICU term hospitalized neonates due to neonatal early-onset sepsis. Thirty-two term newborns that referred to hospital for rule out hyperbilirubinemia during the first 72 h of life were also considered as the control.
Results: Sixty- four mothers with mean age 28.76 ± 6.60 years and mean gestational age 39.64 ± 1.62 weeks entered the study. There was a significant correlation between sepsis and older age of mothers and low Apgar score (P-value = 0.02, 0.01 respectively). The maternal vitamin D serum level was reversely correlated with neonatal sepsis occurrence (P-value = 0.03). There was a significant correlation between maternal vitamin D supplement intake during pregnancy and lower risk for neonatal sepsis (P-value = 0.003).
Conclusion: The level of maternal serum Vitamin D was inversely correlated with neonatal sepsis occurrence and intake of vitamin D supplement during pregnancy could decrease the risk of early neonatal sepsis.
Keywords: Apgar score; Maternal; Neonatal early onset sepsis; Vitamin D; Vitamin D supplement.