The association between vitamin D deficiency, folate deficiency and seropositivity to persistent pathogens among U.S. children

摘要

Background: Studies have documented the association between vitamin deficiency and immune system dsyfunction. Few studies have examined the relationship between vitamin deficiencies and infection with specific pathogens. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether vitamin D and/or folate deficiency (levels < 20 ng/ml and < 362.6 nmol/L, respectively) are associated with seropositivity to persistent pathogens including cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) and helicobacter pylori (H.