Correction of vitamin D deficiency in a cohort of newborn infants using daily 200 IU vitamin D supplementation
Irish Journal of Medical Science (1971 -), July 2015
C. Onwuneme, B. Diya, O. Uduma, R. A. McCarthy, N. Murphy, M. T. Kilbane, M. J. McKenna, E. J. Molloy
Most of the world considers repletion level to be 30 ng
- Fewer pre-infants were vitamin D deficient when they got 800 IU – RCT Feb 2014
- Third study found that Infants needed 1600 IU of vitamin D – JAMA RCT May 2013
- 1000 IU vitamin D not enough in winter to restore levels in children - RCT June 2015
- UK program to increase Vitamin D (Healthy Start) continues to be a farce - Nov 2014
- Vitamin D Recommendations around the world - IU and ng
Introduction: Although the role of vitamin D in the prevention of rickets has long been well established, controversies still exist on the ideal dose of vitamin D supplementation in infants.
Objective: We assessed serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) status simultaneously in maternal and cord samples and the response to vitamin D3 supplementation in neonates.
Methods: Serum 25OHD levels were evaluated from maternal, and umbilical cord samples from term normal pregnancies. Repeat 25OHD levels were assessed in neonates with 25OHD below 30 nmol/L following vitamin D3 200 IU daily after 6 weeks.
Results: Blood samples were taken including 57 cord samples and 16 follow-up neonatal samples. Maternal and cord serum 25OHD were 43 ± 21 and 29 ± 15 nmol/L, respectively. Infants with 25OHD < 30 nmol/L (19.8 ± 4.7 nmol/L) had a significant increase in serum 25OHD (63.3 ± 14.5 nmol/L) following vitamin D3 200 IU daily after 6 weeks.
Conclusion: Healthy Irish infants born at term are at high risk of vitamin D deficiency, but vitamin D3 200 IU daily, rapidly corrects poor vitamin D status.