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Updated: Oct 22, 2025

Transcutaneous Microcirculatory Imaging in Preterm Neonates
06:27

Transcutaneous Microcirculatory Imaging in Preterm Neonates

Published on: December 31, 2015

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Local protocol helped to deliver vitamin D levels more accurately in preterm infants

Mauras Mathilde1, Marine Butin2,3,4, Roy Pascal4,5,6

  • 1Service de Néphrologie Rhumatologie et Dermatologie Pédiatriques, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Hôpital Femme Mère Enfant, Bron, France.

Acta Paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992)
|August 30, 2021
PubMed

Insights

The modified vitamin D supplementation protocol for preterm infants improved dosing but still resulted in frequent moderate hypervitaminosis D. Further research is needed to optimize vitamin D levels and assess their impact on infant health.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Medicine
  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Nutritional Science

Background:

  • Preterm infants require careful vitamin D supplementation to prevent deficiencies and related complications.
  • Hospital protocols for vitamin D (25-hydroxy vitamin D or 25(OH)D) supplementation in neonates are subject to modification and require ongoing evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the effectiveness and safety of a revised hospital protocol for vitamin D supplementation in preterm infants.
  • To evaluate 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) levels and identify any instances of under- or overdosing.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 99 preterm infants (<31 weeks gestation) admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit.
  • Monthly monitoring of 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) levels, calcium, and urinary calcium, with supplementation adjusted to maintain levels between 50-120 nmol/L.

Main Results:

  • At discharge, the mean 25(OH)D level was 98 nmol/L, with 63% in the normal range, 4% low, and 33% high.
  • No cases of rickets or fractures were reported.
  • Vitamin D supplementation was discontinued for over a month before discharge in 60% of infants.

Conclusions:

  • The modified protocol reduced under- and significant overdosing of vitamin D but moderate hypervitaminosis D remained common.
  • Optimal vitamin D supplementation strategies and the clinical significance of 25(OH)D levels in preterm infants require further investigation.
Abstract

Keywords:
25-hydroxyvitamin Dhypervitaminosis Dnephrocalcinosispreterm infantsvitamin D deficiency

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