Serum vitamin D deficiency and its association with inflammatory markers in patients with chronic kidney disease: A hospital-based cross-sectional study.

Abstract

Background:

Vitamin D deficiency is common in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and may contribute to systemic inflammation; Indian hospital-based data remain limited.
Objectives:

To estimate the prevalence of serum Vitamin D deficiency in CKD and assess its association with C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR).
Methods:

This hospital-based cross-sectional study enrolled 100 adults (≥18 years) with CKD. Serum 25(OH)D was classified as deficient (<20 ng/mL), insufficient (20–30 ng/mL), or sufficient (>30 ng/mL). CRP, IL-6, and ESR were measured. Group comparisons used one-way ANOVA, and associations were tested using Pearson’s correlation; p < 0.05 was considered significant.
Results:

Mean age was 52.6 ± 12.4 years; 62% were men, and 68% had CKD stages 4–5. Vitamin D deficiency, insufficiency, and sufficiency were seen in 64%, 22%, and 14%, respectively. CRP and IL-6 were higher in the deficient group (9.4 ± 2.6 mg/L; 12.1 ± 4.2 pg/mL) than the insufficient (6.8 ± 2.1 mg/L; 8.6 ± 3.1 pg/mL) and sufficient groups (5.2 ± 1.8 mg/L; 6.9 ± 2.4 pg/mL) (p < 0.001 and p < 0.01). ESR was higher in deficient patients but not significantly so (p = 0.12). Vitamin D correlated negatively with CRP (r = –0.48, p < 0.001) and IL-6 (r = –0.42, p = 0.002); correlation with ESR was non-significant (p = 0.12).
Conclusion:

Vitamin D deficiency was highly prevalent and was associated with elevated CRP and IL-6, suggesting a link between hypovitaminosis D and systemic inflammation in CKD.
Recommendations:

Routine Vitamin D screening and correction may be considered in CKD care; longitudinal and interventional studies are needed to clarify causality and optimal supplementation strategies.