METHODS: Twenty-three non-syndromic babies under the age of 1 year who were diagnosed with laryngomalacia were included in the study group. Forty healthy babies were included in the control group. The detailed anamnesis was obtained and a complete systemic physical examination, a flexible endoscopic laryngeal examination, and laboratory tests [calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), parathormone (PTH), alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Cre), and 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25-OH D)] were performed in all patients. All laboratory tests of the groups were compared.
RESULTS: It was observed that there was no significant difference in the parameters that could affect vitamin D levels, namely type of feeding, vitamin D supplement intake, and the season when the serum sample was taken (p > 0.05). The vitamin D level was significantly lower (p = 0.003, p < 0.05) and the P and ALP levels were significantly higher (p = 0.016 and p = 0.001, respectively; p < 0.05) in the laryngomalacia group. Although the correlation between vitamin D and PTH was not statistically significant according to the Pearson correlation analysis, it was lower in the laryngomalacia group compared to the control group (p = 0.381, p > 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: In this study, it was observed that the vitamin D levels were lower in infants with laryngomalacia compared to the control group. We consider that vitamin D deficiency may be a factor in the etiology of laryngomalacia with a yet-to-be-clarified etiology.