Cord Vitamin D in Preventing Intraventricular Hemorrhage in Premature Infants: May Not Be as Significant as Hypothesized

Background: The importance of cord Vitamin D in preventing intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) in premature neonates has garnered significant interest due to its potential impact on overall health and brain development. Objectives: This research sought to determine the connection between cord Vitamin D levels and the occurrence of IVH in premature infants. Subjects and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Hafez Hospital in Fars province, Southwestern Iran, focusing on the delicate lives of premature newborns during the fall of 2022–2023. Each extremely premature underwent brain ultrasonography within 72 h of birth, while their cord blood was analyzed for Vitamin D levels using the radioimmunoassay method. By comparing Vitamin D levels in those with IVH to those without, the study utilized descriptive statistics, the Chi-square test, and the Mann–Whitney U -test to draw meaningful insights from the data. Results: Among 111 premature newborns with a mean gestational age of 30.8 weeks, brain ultrasonography revealed IVH in 51.4% (57/111) by the third day. The mean Vitamin D level in premature newborn with IVH was 16.77 ± 5.90 ng/mL, while those without IVH had a mean level of 17.56 ± 7.42 ng/mL. Statistical analysis indicated no significant relationship between umbilical cord Vitamin D levels and the presence of IVH ( P = 0.12). In addition, Vitamin D levels did not show a significant difference in relation to the severity of IVH ( P = 0.54). Conclusion: Although Vitamin D is recognized for supporting brain development and influencing neuroprotective mechanisms, recent evidence suggests that its significance in reducing IVH risk may be less critical than previously hypothesized.