Vitamin D status of early preterm infants and the effects of vitamin D intake during hospital stay

Abstract

ObjectivesTo evaluate vitamin D (vitD) status in early preterm infants (EPTIs) at birth and during birth hospitalisation on current vitD intake.Design/methodsSerum 25-hydroxyvitamin-D [25(OH)D] concentrations, vitD intake and risk factors for low vitD status were assessed in 120 infants born at ≤32 weeks gestation.ResultsMean (SD) serum 25(OH)D at birth was 46.2 (14.0) nmol/L with lower concentrations in infants born <28 weeks than at 28–32 weeks gestation, p=0.02. Serum 25(OH)D was <50 nmol/L in 63% of mothers, 64% of infants at birth and 35% of infants at discharge. Mean daily vitD intake was 289±96 IU at 4 weeks of age and 60% achieved 400 IU/day intake at discharge.ConclusionsSerum 25(OH)D <50 nmol/L was widespread in parturient women and in EPTIs at birth and at discharge. Optimising maternal vitD status during pregnancy and improving postnatal vitD intake may enhance infant vitD status during hospitalisation.

Response of vitamin D binding protein and free vitamin D concentrations to vitamin D supplementation in hospitalized premature infants

“…Low vitamin D status during early infancy and childhood has been associated with a host of negative sequelae over the life course, including asthma, respiratory tract infections, and diabetes (1)(2)(3)(4), although exact doses for premature infants remain undefined (5). High levels of vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency have been reported in infants born prematurely (6)(7)(8)(9), making careful assessment of vitamin D status warranted in this patient population.…”

Time-course analysis of 3-epi-25-hydroxyvitamin D3 shows markedly elevated levels in early life, particularly from vitamin D supplementation in preterm infants

“…Multiple studies on 25 Compliance is a major issue in supplementation programs. However, the infants involved in this study were not extremely premature and generally in good condition.…”

Vitamin D deficiency in pediatric clinical practice

“…11 A recent study assessed 100 children with a gestational age (GA) between 23 and 27 weeks and a mean weight of 770 g who received different VD doses. At 28 days of life, VDD was observed in 41% of infants from the placebo group, in 16% from the group dosed with 200 IU daily, and in 0% from the group dosed with 800 IU daily.…”