Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 25, 2026

Author Spotlight: Studying the Impact of Maternal Dietary Deficiencies on Long-Term Offspring Health Outcomes
03:19

Author Spotlight: Studying the Impact of Maternal Dietary Deficiencies on Long-Term Offspring Health Outcomes

Published on: June 28, 2024

813

Effect of different doses of vitamin D supplementation on preterm infants - an updated meta-analysis

Yang Yang1, Zhao Li1, Guo Yan1

  • 1a Department of neonates , Children's hospital of Nanjing Medical University , Nanjing , China.

The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine : the Official Journal of the European Association of Perinatal Medicine, the Federation of Asia and Oceania Perinatal Societies, the International Society of Perinatal Obstetricians
|August 9, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Higher daily vitamin D doses (800-1000 IU) in preterm infants improved growth and immune function compared to lower doses (400 IU). This vitamin D supplementation did not affect bronchopulmonary dysplasia incidence.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Medicine
  • Pediatric Nutrition
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent in infants, particularly preterm neonates.
  • Controversies exist regarding vitamin D's impact on infant development, immunity, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review the effects of different vitamin D supplementation doses on preterm infants' development, immune function, and BPD incidence.

Main Methods:

  • A systematic review of randomized controlled trials from PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, Wanfang, VIP, and Cnki databases was conducted.
  • Studies were included if published in English or Chinese, with the last search on August 1, 2016.

Main Results:

  • Twelve studies (seven English, five Chinese) were analyzed.
  • High-dose (800-1000 IU/d) vs. low-dose (400 IU/d) vitamin D showed no difference in calcium, phosphorus, or 25(OH)D levels.
  • High-dose vitamin D significantly increased length and head circumference gain.
  • Vitamin D supplementation increased IL-2, Ig-A, and Ig-G levels compared to controls.
  • No significant difference in BPD incidence was observed between supplemented and control groups.

Conclusions:

  • Daily vitamin D supplementation of 800-1000 IU appears more beneficial for preterm infants' development and immune function than 400 IU.
  • Larger sample size clinical trials are necessary to confirm these findings.
Abstract

Keywords:
Immune functionmeta-analysispretermvitamin D

More Related Videos

Modeling Encephalopathy of Prematurity Using Prenatal Hypoxia-ischemia with Intra-amniotic Lipopolysaccharide in Rats07:36

Modeling Encephalopathy of Prematurity Using Prenatal Hypoxia-ischemia with Intra-amniotic Lipopolysaccharide in Rats

Published on: November 20, 2015

11.9K
Transcutaneous Microcirculatory Imaging in Preterm Neonates06:27

Transcutaneous Microcirculatory Imaging in Preterm Neonates

Published on: December 31, 2015

8.6K

Related Concept Videos

Drug Dosing: Infants and Children01:29

Drug Dosing: Infants and Children

Pediatric patient dosages diverge from adults due to disparities in body surface area, total body water, and extracellular fluid per kilogram of body weight. The dosing regimen considers the variations in pharmacokinetics and pharmacology across distinct age groups, encompassing preterm newborns, infants, young children, older children, and adolescents. Calculation of pediatric patient doses is predicated on determining body surface area, which exhibits a superior correlation with the child's...
388
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption01:23

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption

Understanding the physiological differences in the pediatric population is crucial for effective pharmacotherapy. Neonates, infants, and children exhibit significant variations in gastric pH, gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, and biliary function. These variations profoundly affect oral drug absorption, necessitating a nuanced approach to pediatric dosing.Neonates present with a unique physiological profile, having a gastric pH greater than 4 and faster and more irregular gastric...
375
Role of Skin in Vitamin D Synthesis01:23

Role of Skin in Vitamin D Synthesis

The skin plays a crucial role in the synthesis of vitamin D, a vital nutrient for various physiological processes in the body. Vitamin D is unique because it can be synthesized in the skin through a series of chemical reactions triggered by exposure to ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation from sunlight.
The solar UV B rays (290-315 nm) are absorbed by the skin, and 7-dehydrocholesterol (provitamin D3) photolyzes it to previtamin D3, which undergoes a rapid transformation to vitamin...
8.3K
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution01:17

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution

Drug distribution in the pediatric population exhibits unique challenges and considerations due to the physiological differences between children, particularly neonates and infants, and adults. A crucial aspect of pediatric pharmacology is understanding how these differences impact the pharmacokinetics of various drugs, necessitating age-specific dosing strategies to ensure efficacy and safety.Neonates and infants have a higher total body water content, ~75%–90% of their body weight,...
359
Factors Affecting Drug Response: Overview01:21

Factors Affecting Drug Response: Overview

When it comes to infants and young children, they are typically administered smaller doses of medication in comparison to adults. This is primarily because their organ functions still need to fully develop, meaning their bodies are not as efficient at metabolizing or eliminating drugs. Additionally, their blood-brain barrier is more permeable than in adults. As a result, high concentrations of drugs can easily penetrate the central nervous system (CNS), potentially leading to neurological...
3.2K
Teratogenicity01:07

Teratogenicity

The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...
4.3K