Inverted U-shaped relationship between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations and Toxoplasma gondii infection: a cross-sectional study
Front Public Health 2024 Aug 29:12:1420932. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1420932
Lihua Huang # 1, Xiaoyan Luo # 2, Liuliu He 1, Xiaoyan You 1, Xiaobo Chen 3
Background: Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is a widespread zoonotic parasite transmitted through contaminated food or water. It poses a significant public health threat, especially to pregnant women and immunocompromised individuals. 25-Hydroxyvitamin D 25(OH)D plays a critical role in regulating both innate and adaptive immune responses, particularly in its anti-infective capacity. However, the relationship between serum 25(OH)D concentrations and T. gondii infection remains uncertain.
Methods: We analyzed the data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) spanning 2009-2014 to explore the association between serum 25(OH)D concentrations and T. gondii infection. Extensive demographic, comorbidity, and dietary data were collected. The status of T. gondii infection was determined using serum anti-IgG antibodies. Serum 25(OH)D levels were measured using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). In addition, weighted logistic regression and restricted cubic spline analyses were performed.
Results: Our analysis included 10,157 participants (mean SE age, 45.38 0.39 years; 49.73% female) who met the inclusion criteria. Serum 25(OH)D levels were categorized into quintiles, with the second quintile serving as the reference group. The final model, adjusted for age, sex, race, education level, poverty income ratio, body mass index, smoking status, hypertension, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, depression, physical activity, alcohol intake, seasonal testing, and dietary vitamin D, revealed the following adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for the quintiles: 0.75 (95% confidence interval CI: 0.60-0.93) for the first, 0.87 (95% CI: 0.69-1.10) for the third, 0.75 (95% CI: 0.58-0.95) for the fourth, and 0.66 (95% CI: 0.49-0.91) for the fifth. Additionally, a restricted cubic spline analysis revealed an inverted U-shaped relationship between serum 25(OH)D and T. gondii infection, with an inflection point at approximately 51.29 nmol/L. Odds ratios to the left and right of the inflection point were 1.17 (95% CI: 1.03-1.32) and 0.94 (95% CI, 0.90-0.98) per 10 nmol/L, respectively.
Conclusion: Our study uncovers an inverted U-shaped relationship between serum 25(OH)D concentrations and T. gondii infection, with an inflection point around 51.29 nmol/L.
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Vitamin D Life – Infections and low vitamin D - many studies contains
Fact Many infections are associated with low vitamin D
- 10 percent of all women had after-birth infections – majority had low vitamin D (PhD) – 2019
- Helicobacter pylori infection and low vitamin D – several studies
- Having less than 15 ng of vitamin D increased risk of hospitalization with infection by 2.8 times – April 2016
- Urinary Tract Infection in children 4.8 X more likely if low Vitamin D – meta-analysis Feb 2019
- Joint replacement infection associated with low vitamin D – April 2014
- The interplay between vitamin D and viral infections – Jan 2019
- Tuberculosis 3X more likely if less than 12 ng of Vitamin D - meta-analysis Sept 2019
Fact Many infections are treated by Vitamin D
- Infection fighting ability increased with 5,000 IU Vitamin D daily – April 2015
- Tuberculosis -100 percent cure rate with 10,000 IU of vitamin D daily – RCT 2006
Fact Many infections are prevented by higher levels of Vitamin D
- Additional 4 ng of vitamin D reduced chance of infection by 7 percent – June 2011
- Half the risk of Influenza -A in infants taking 1200 IU of vitamin D for 4 months – RCT Jan 2018
- Half as much chronic kidney disease infection if supplement with Vitamin D – 2018
- Respiratory infections (RTI) cut in half by 20,000 IU weekly vitamin D if initially deficient – RCT March 2015
- Viral infection reduced 90 percent with 2000 IU of vitamin D – Dec 2010
- Urinary Tract Infection in infants 5.6 X MORE likely if low Vitamin D, 3.3 X LESS likely if supplement – July 2016
- Many Infectious diseases (virus) treated and prevented by Vitamin D – review July 2009
Apparently Low vitamin D levels are both a cause and a result of severe infections
Unknown Can Vitamin D treat and prevent Deep Neck Infections?
Unknown Does the Vitamin D Receptor or other genes limit vitamin D from getting to deep neck tissues
- Upper respiratory infection associated with poor Vitamin D Receptor – Oct 2018
- Certain types of Tuberculosis are 2X more likely with a poor Vitamin D Receptor – April 2019
- Leprosy 3X more likely if poor VDR – Nov 2018
- The risk of 43 diseases at least double with poor Vitamin D Receptor as of Oct 2019