Vitamin D sufficiency and Staphylococcus aureus infection in children.
Wang. Jeffrey W JW; Hogan. Patrick G PG; Hunstad. David A DA; Fritz. Stephanie A SA
Key Findings
- Vitamin D stimulates the production of the antimicrobial peptide LL‑37 in epithelial tissue.
- Children with 25‑hydroxyvitamin D levels below 30 ng/mL had a higher chance of recurrent Staphylococcus aureus skin/soft‑tissue infections.
- Achieving vitamin D sufficiency could be a simple, modifiable factor to lower the frequency of these infections.
Practical Outcomes
- Maintain 25‑hydroxyvitamin D levels above 30 ng/mL through sunlight exposure, diet, or supplementation (e.g., 1,000–2,000 IU vitamin D3 daily for many adults, adjusted for individual needs). Regularly test vitamin D status and aim for the sufficient range to support LL‑37‑mediated skin immunity, potentially reducing recurrent Staph infections.
Summary
Kids who don’t have enough vitamin D are more likely to get repeated Staph skin infections because low vitamin D means less of the natural antibiotic peptide LL‑37 in their skin. Keeping vitamin D levels above 30 ng/mL may boost this peptide and help prevent those infections.
Abstract
Vitamin D promotes epithelial immunity by upregulating antimicrobial peptides, including LL-37, which have bactericidal activity against Staphylococcus aureus. We found that children with vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency [25-hydroxyvitamin D <30 ng/mL] were more likely to present with recurrent, rather than primary, S. aureus skin or soft tissue infection. Vitamin D sufficiency may be one of a myriad of host and environmental factors that can be directly impacted to reduce the frequency of S. aureus skin and soft tissue infection.
Study Information
pubmed
2015
10.1097/inf.0000000000000667