Abstract
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.
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