Association Between Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and Trichomonas Vaginalis Infection among American Adults: NHANES 2013-2016

Abstract

Abstract According to this cross-sectional study, individuals in the United States between the ages of 20 and 59 who have low vitamin D levels are more likely to have a prevalent infection of Trichomonas vaginalis. Background Previous studies have suggested that vitamin D may possess anti-infection properties, but the relationship between vitamin D and Trichomonas vaginalis infection remains unexplored. Methods Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 2013-2016, we conducted multivariate regression analyses and subgroup analyses to investigate the association between 25(OH)D levels and Trichomonas vaginalis infection, ensuring the robustness of our results. Results The final sample included data from 4318 individuals aged 20 to 59, among which 92 were diagnosed with Trichomonas vaginalis infection. For every 10 nmol/L increase in serum 25(OH)D level, there was a 22% reduction in the likelihood of Trichomonas vaginalis infection incidence (adjusted odds ratio, aOR = 0.78, 95% confidence interval, CI 0.69-0.90). Similarly, higher concentration tertiles demonstrated relatively lower infection ratios compared to the tertile with the lowest 25(OH)D concentration (aOR = 0.54, 95% CI, 0.30-0.95, P = 0.030 for T2; aOR = 0.23, 95% CI, 0.09-0.61, P < 0.001 for T3). Conclusion Our cross-sectional study indicates a negative association between 25(OH)D levels and the prevalence of Trichomonas vaginalis infection. However, further high-quality evidence is needed to establish a causal relationship between 25(OH)D levels and Trichomonas vaginalis infection, as well as to evaluate the potentia role of vitamin D supplementation in preventing Trichomonas vaginalis infection.