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Subclinical hypovitaminosis D among exclusively breastfed young infants

U Bhalala1, Meena Desai, P Parekh

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Sir H N Hospital and Research Center and Sir H N Medical Research Society, Raja Rammohan Roy Road, Mumbai 400 004, India. meena_desai@vsnl.net

Indian Pediatrics
|January 8, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Maternal vitamin D deficiency is common and leads to low vitamin D levels in newborns. This deficiency persists in exclusively breastfed infants at three months, highlighting the need for intervention.

Area of Science:

  • Nutritional biochemistry
  • Pediatric health
  • Maternal-fetal medicine

Background:

  • Vitamin D is crucial for calcium absorption and bone health.
  • Maternal vitamin D status significantly impacts infant vitamin D levels.
  • Exclusively breastfed infants are at risk for vitamin D deficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess vitamin D status in mother-newborn pairs at birth.
  • To evaluate vitamin D status in exclusively breastfed infants at three months.
  • To determine the association between maternal and infant vitamin D levels.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal study design.
  • Inclusion of exclusively breastfed infants born at term to healthy mothers.
  • Measurement of serum calcium, phosphorous, heat labile alkaline phosphatase (HLAP), and 25(OH)D in mothers, cord blood, and infants at three months.

Main Results:

  • Maternal and cord blood 25(OH)D levels were comparable, with a strong correlation.
  • Infant 25(OH)D levels at three months correlated with both maternal and cord blood levels.
  • A high prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency (<25 ng/mL) was observed: 50% in mothers, 62% in cord blood, and 80% in infants at three months.

Conclusions:

  • Suboptimal maternal vitamin D status is linked to vitamin D deficiency in newborns.
  • Vitamin D deficiency persists in exclusively breastfed infants at three months.
  • Early assessment and intervention for vitamin D status are recommended for mothers and infants.
Abstract

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