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[Vitamin D status in Gabonese children]
B Nguema-Asseko1, P S Ganga-Zandzou, F Ovono
1Laboratoire de biochimie de la faculté de médecine de Libreville, Gabon.
Insights
Vitamin D supplementation is not necessary for infants aged 0-6 months in Gabon. Studies show no significant differences in health or vitamin D levels with or without supplements.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Nutritional Science
- Public Health
Background:
- Vitamin D is crucial for infant health, particularly bone development.
- The equatorial region of Gabon presents unique environmental factors potentially affecting vitamin D levels.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess vitamin D status in neonates and infants up to 6 months in Gabon.
- To evaluate the efficacy of vitamin D supplementation in this population.
Main Methods:
- A comparative study involving two groups of infants (0-6 months).
- Group 1 received 1000 IU of vitamin D daily; Group 2 received no supplement.
- Clinical and biological parameters, including 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels, were monitored.
Main Results:
- No significant clinical differences were found between supplemented and unsupplemented groups.
- Biological parameters, including calcemia and phosphatemia, showed no significant variations.
- Plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were normal and similar in both groups.
Conclusions:
- Vitamin D supplementation appears unnecessary for infants aged 0-6 months in Gabon.
- Infants in this region may achieve adequate vitamin D levels through other sources.
- Further research could explore specific environmental or dietary factors contributing to sufficient vitamin D levels.
Objective:
To analyse the status of vitamin D and the influence of a supplement of vitamin D in neonates and infants during the first 6 months of life in the african equatorial environnement of Gabon.
Design:
Clinical (weight, height, head circumference, and diseases) and biological (calcemia, phosphatemia, serum alkaline phosphatase activity and plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels) parameters were compared between 2 groups of children: group 1: 41 infants receving a daily supplement of 1000 IU of vitamin D, and group 2: 38 infants without vitamin D supplement.
Results:
No significant differences were observed between the 2 groups concerning clinical and biological parameters. In particular plasma levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D were normal and similar in both groups.
Conclusion:
A vitamin D supplement appears to be useless in 0 to 6 months infants living in Gabon.
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