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Severe vitamin D deficiency in preterm infants: possibly no association with clinical outcomes?

Tomas Matejek1, Jana Zemankova1, Jana Malakova2

  • 1Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine Hradec Kralove, Charles University in Prague, University Hospital Hradec Kralove, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic.

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
|June 3, 2020
PubMed

Insights

This study found no significant differences in clinical outcomes for very low birth weight infants based on umbilical cord blood 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels. Umbilical cord vitamin D levels did not impact the risk of respiratory distress syndrome in preterm infants.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Medicine
  • Nutritional Science
  • Pediatric Research

Background:

  • Vitamin D deficiency is common in preterm infants, potentially affecting clinical outcomes.
  • Umbilical cord blood 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) levels may indicate neonatal vitamin D status.
  • Severe vitamin D deficiency is defined as levels <25 nmol/L.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare clinical outcomes of very low birth weight (VLBW) infants with umbilical cord blood 25(OH)D levels <25 nmol/L versus >25 nmol/L.
  • To evaluate umbilical cord vitamin D as a risk factor for respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in preterm infants.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective cohort study of 81 VLBW infants (<1500g).
  • Measurement of 25(OH)D levels in umbilical cord blood and infant serum at discharge.
  • Comparison of laboratory findings and clinical outcomes between infants with cord blood 25(OH)D <25 nmol/L and >25 nmol/L.

Main Results:

  • 44.4% of infants had severe vitamin D deficiency (<25 nmol/L).
  • No significant differences in clinical outcomes or laboratory findings between the two vitamin D groups.
  • Infants with 25(OH)D <25 nmol/L had lower urinary calcium at 28 days (p=.0272).
  • Umbilical cord vitamin D level was not associated with RDS risk (OR 1.044, p=.0771).

Conclusions:

  • No significant association found between vitamin D status (using a 25 nmol/L cutoff) and selected clinical outcomes in preterm infants.
  • Umbilical cord 25(OH)D levels do not appear to be a significant risk factor for RDS in this cohort.
Abstract

Keywords:
25-hydroxyvitamin DVitamin Dclinical outcomeprematuritypreterm infants

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