The Association Between Vitamin D Levels and Intestinal Parasites

Abstract

Immune system is known to be affected by vitamin D deficiency. In this study, we investigated whether there was a significant association between vitamin D levels and intestinal parasites.

A total of 239 patients treated at the internal medicine outpatient clinics with gastrointestinal complaints were included in this study. Demographic characteristics of the patients were recorded. Examination of stool samples were repeated three times within 10 days. Cellophane band method, native-lugol, sedimentation and modified Kinyoun's acid fast stain methods were used for the detection of parasites in the stool samples. The samples were prepared, stained and examined under a microscope. Vitamin D levels were examined in the blood samples collected from the patients. Patients having vitamin D level under 20 ng/ml were diagnosed with vitamin D deficiency.

Binary logistic regression analysis showed that serum vitamin D level was significant informative variable for only Iodamoeba and Cyclospora. No association between vitamin D level and the presence of other intestinal parasites was found. The risk of Iodamoeba positivity was 2.54 times higher in the patients with a serum vitamin D level under 20 ng/ml ($$p<0.01$$). Similarly, the risk of Cyclospora positivity was 2.44 times higher in the patients with a serum vitamin D level under 20 ng/ml compared to those with a serum vitamin D level over 20 ng/ml ($$p<0.01$$).

The risk for positivity of Iodamoeba and Cyclospora that are among the intestinal protozoa is high for people with vitamin D deficiency.