Distribution of TNF-α Among Antenatal Women with Varying Levels of Vitamin D

  • Bineeta Kashyap Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology, University College of Medical Sciences & Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Delhi.
  • Nisha Goyal Senior Resident, Department of Microbiology, University College of Medical Sciences & Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Delhi.
  • Neha Gupta Post Graduate Student, Department of Microbiology, University College of Medical Sciences & Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Delhi
  • Sapna Jhanjhria Post Graduate Student, Department of Microbiology, University College of Medical Sciences & Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Delhi
  • Mohd Tajuddin Senior Resident, Department of Microbiology, Delhi State Cancer Institute, Delhi
  • NP Singh Director Professor and Head, Department of Microbiology, University College of Medical Sciences & Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Delhi.
Keywords: vitamin D, 25-OH Vitamin D, TNF-α, antenatal, cytokine

Abstract

Background and objective: Vitamin D deficiency in antenatal mothers adversely affects not only the health of pregnant mother but also her child. Vitamin D is crucial for proper immune system functioning and management of cytokine environment. Relationship between vitamin D deficiency and TNF-α may prove useful in early detection of inflammatory conditions in pregnant mothers. Therefore, this study assessed serum vitamin D and TNF-α levels in antenatal mothers. Materials & Methods: 78 serum samples of healthy pregnant mothers were included. Serum 25-OH Vitamin D and TNF-α levels were estimated using commercially available ELISA kits. Results:25-OH Vitamin D levels were inadequate (<32ng/ml) in 94.9% of antenatal cases. Majority (74.4%)had an insufficient (11-32 ng/ml)25-OH Vitamin D level. Mean and median vitamin D levels were 16 ± 7.5 SD and 14.5 ng/ml (3.5-39.5) respectively in antenatal mothers. None or a very weak positive linear relationship was observed between serum 25-OH Vitamin D and TNF-α levels (r: 0.13). No correlation was seen between 25-OH Vitamin D & age and TNF-α & age (r: 0.04; r: 0.06 respectively). Conclusions: In settings where subnormal vitamin D levels are prevalent in antenatal mothers, screening for vitamin D deficiency in early pregnancy with subsequent supplementation if needed is recommended. No correlation was observed between serum vitamin D and pro-inflammatory marker TNF-α levels. Further elaborate studies are required to investigate the effects of vitamin D on cytokine environment especially in pregnant mothers.

Author Biographies

Nisha Goyal, Senior Resident, Department of Microbiology, University College of Medical Sciences & Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Delhi.
Senior Resident, Department of Microbiology, University College of Medical Sciences & Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Delhi.
Neha Gupta, Post Graduate Student, Department of Microbiology, University College of Medical Sciences & Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Delhi
Post Graduate Student, Department of Microbiology, University College of Medical Sciences & Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Delhi
Sapna Jhanjhria, Post Graduate Student, Department of Microbiology, University College of Medical Sciences & Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Delhi
Post Graduate Student, Department of Microbiology, University College of Medical Sciences & Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Delhi
Mohd Tajuddin, Senior Resident, Department of Microbiology, Delhi State Cancer Institute, Delhi
Senior Resident, Department of Microbiology, Delhi State Cancer Institute, Delhi
NP Singh, Director Professor and Head, Department of Microbiology, University College of Medical Sciences & Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Delhi.
Director Professor and Head, Department of Microbiology, University College of Medical Sciences & Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Delhi.

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Published
2019-11-08
Section
Original Article