Association between vitamin D deficiency at one month of age and bronchopulmonary dysplasia

Area of Science:

• Neonatal Medicine
• Pediatric Nutrition
• Clinical Research

Background:

• Vitamin D deficiency is a prevalent issue in neonatal populations, particularly impacting preterm infants and increasing their susceptibility to various morbidities.
• Preterm infants often require supplementation due to limited vitamin D stores and altered metabolism.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess serum vitamin D levels in preterm infants after a standard supplementation protocol.
• To determine the association between vitamin D levels at one month of age and the incidence of neonatal morbidities.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective study of preterm infants (<1500g birth weight or <32 weeks gestational age) receiving 400 IU oral vitamin D daily.
• Infants were categorized into sufficient (≥20 ng/mL) and deficient (<20 ng/mL) groups based on serum vitamin D levels at 1 month.
• Statistical analysis was performed to compare demographic data and clinical outcomes between the groups.

Main Results:

• The study included 90 preterm infants (49 deficient, 41 sufficient in vitamin D).
• No significant differences in gestational age or birth weight were noted between the vitamin D deficient and sufficient groups.
• Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) occurred significantly more frequently in the vitamin D-deficient group (OR 2.21; P=.02).

Conclusions:

• Vitamin D deficiency at one month of age is a significant risk factor for developing bronchopulmonary dysplasia in preterm infants.
• Current vitamin D supplementation protocols may need re-evaluation for preterm infants to ensure optimal levels and reduce BPD incidence.