Vitamin D supplementation trial in infancy: body composition effects at 3 years of age in a prospective follow-up study from Montréal
T. J. Hazell1, S. Gallo2, C. A. Vanstone3, S. Agellon3, C. Rodd4 andH. A. Weiler3,
Pediatric Obesity, Article first published online: 4 FEB 2016. DOI: 10.1111/ijpo.12105
Background: The impact of vitamin D status on body composition is not well understood.
Objectives: Evaluate how vitamin D supplementation in infancy affects body composition at 3 years of age.
Methods: Double-blind randomized trial of 132, 1-month-old healthy, breastfed infants randomly assigned to receive oral vitamin D3 supplements of 400, 800, 1200 or 1600 IU d−1 for 11 months. In the present analysis, 87 (66%) returned at 3 years of age. Body composition was measured using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.
Results: Anthropometry, body composition, diet, activity and demographics were similar across dosage groups at 3 years. Mean 25(OH)D concentration from 1 month to 3 years was higher (P < 0.001) in the 1200 IU group than 800 and 400 IU groups. Children with 25(OH)D concentrations above 75 nmol L−1 had lower fat mass (~450 g; P = 0.049). In multiple linear regression, mean 25(OH)D was associated with lean mass percent (β = 0.06; CI: 0.00, 0.12; P = 0.042), fat mass (β = −11.29; CI: −22.06, −0.52; P = 0.048) and body fat percent (β = −0.06; CI: −0.12, −0.01; P = 0.045).
Conclusions
Higher vitamin D status from infancy through to 3 years of age associates with leaner body composition.
Download the PDF from VitaminDWiki
- Nice results
- Would have had far better results if they had varied the vitamin D dose size with weight
100 IU per kg of infant July 2011, Poland etc. - Also would have had better results if had continued the vitamin D supplementation from age 1 to age 3
From the PDF: 1600 IU tallest, most active, leanest
Response to constant amount of vitamin D
1600 IU is too much at 1 month but too little at 12 months
Dose should not be constant, but be proportional to weight
See also VitaminDWiki
- Infants getting up to 1600 IU did not increase blood level of vitamin D – RCT March 2016
A later publication on this same study by many of the same authors
Intervention AND Infant/Child
- Children had a better response to Vitamin D given every 2 weeks than daily – RCT Aug 2024
- Monthly vitamin D dosing better for children than daily (again) - Oct 2023
- Bone fractures of children not reduced if given little vitamin D, no Calcium etc. – RCT May 2023
- Chronic tonsillitis virtually eliminated in children by Vitamin D (50,000 IU weekly) – RCT May 2023
- Infants getting an additional 800 IU of vitamin D for 2 years had 60% fewer psychiatric symptoms at age 7 – RCT May 2023
- Response to infant 2,000 IU Vitamin D daily was in 194 ng, monthly dosing was 20% less – RCT May 2023
- Half of infants had less than 20 ng of Vitamin D with 800 IU (need more) – RCT Sept 2022
- COVID children helped by Vitamin D, trial terminated: unethical to not give Vitamin D to all: – RCT July 2022
- Faster growth in infants getting 1200 IU of Vitamin D – RCT July 2022
- Breastfed Infants need more than an daily average of 800 IU of Vitamin D – RCT June 2022
- 2.4 X fewer lower respiratory track infections in infants getting 400 IU of Vitamin D – May 2022
- Infants have gotten free 400 IU of vitamin D in Turkey since 2005, More for longer would be even better – Feb 2022
- Monthly 120,000 IU of Vitamin D while breastfeeding was good – RCT Jan 2022
- Additional Vitamin D not help – infants previously had 35 ng of vitamin D – RCT Sept 2021
- Supplement preterm infants with vitamin D if less than 80 ng – RCT Sept 2021
- 400 IU of Vitamin D helped breastfed infants, need more – RCT Sept 2021
- Infant Respiratory Infections not reduced by mothers taking small amount of vitamin D (28,000 weekly)– RCT July 2021
- Vitamin D for infants – 100,000 IU monthly is better than 400 IU daily – RCT Oct 2020
- Toddlers with more than 48 ng of vitamin D weighted less and were thinner – RCT Dec 2020
- 6,400 IU of Vitamin D is safe and effective during breastfeeding – RCT Dec, 2020
- Little weight loss in obese children from very small amount of vitamin D (1200 IU) – RCT April 2020
- Lower Respiratory Tract Infection in Infants reduced 5.9 X by daily 600 IU of vitamin D (China) - March 2020
- Bones of white children not helped by 1,000 IU of vitamin D (Northern latitudes) – RCT Sept 2018
- Vitamin D levels in children optimized with six Vitamin D biscuits – RCT Nov 2018
- Tic disorder reduced by Vitamin D supplementation – Aug 2019
- Preemie immunity (Treg) vastly improved by 800 IU of Vitamin D daily – RCT July 2019
- Allergic Rhinitis in infants treated by 1,000 IU vitamin D daily – June 2019
- Treatment of neonate sepsis greatly aided by Vitamin D – RCT June 2019
- 400 IU of Vitamin D in food provided virtually no benefit to children - March 2018
- Children need 2000 IU of Vitamin D (India) - RCT May 2019
- Autistic symptoms reduced by Vitamin D and or Omega-3 – RCT March 2019
- Preterm babies have low vitamin D, but recover in 6 weeks with 800 IU supplementation – Jan 2019
- Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder treated by weekly 50,000 IU of vitamin D – RCT Nov 2018
- Autism problems reduced by Vitamin D, Omega-3 – RCT Oct 2018
- 1200 IU vs 400 IU of vitamin D did not improve bone health or immunity of children who were sufficient – RCT July 2018
- Childhood Respiratory Health hardly improved with 600 IU of vitamin D (need much more) – May 2018
- 430 genes changed when 3,800 IU Vitamin D added in late second trimester – RCT May 2018
- Severe Non-Alcoholic fatty liver disease treated by Omega-3 – RCT April 2018
- 400 IU of Vitamin D provided no benefit to children (not a surprise) – RCT March 2018
- Allergic rhinitis in children reduced somewhat during pollen season by just 1,000 IU of vitamin D – RCT Jan 2018
- Half the risk of Influenza -A in infants taking 1200 IU of vitamin D for 4 months – RCT Jan 2018
- Risk of infant Asthma cut in half if mother supplemented Vitamin D to get more than 30 ng – RCT Oct 2017
- Preemies getting 800 IU of vitamin D were 3X less likely to have low bone density 4 weeks later – RCT Oct 2017
- Preemies need 1,000 IU of vitamin D – RCT Sept 2017
- NAFLD in children nicely treated by combination of Vitamin D and Omega-3 – RCT Dec 2016
- Vitamin D needed to get children to just 20 ng in winter 800 IU white skin, 1100 IU dark (Sweden) – RCT June 2017
- Childhood asthma problems eliminated for months by 600,000 IU of Vitamin D injection – June 2017
- Breastfeeding mothers and Vitamin D: supplement only themselves usually, 4 out of 10 used monthly rather than daily – Jan 2017
- Premature infants (30 weeks) who got 800-1000 IU of vitamin D were much healthier – March 2017
- Newborn Vitamin D - single 50,000 IU is better than daily – RCT Sept 2016
Infant-Child category starts with
- No consensus on MINIMUM International Units (IU) for healthy infant of normal weight
- 400 IU Vitamin D is no longer enough
Was OK in the past century, but D levels have been dropping for a great many reasons.
FDA doubles the amount of vitamin D permitted in milk – July 2016 - No consensus: range is 600 to 1600 IU – based on many randomized controlled trials
- Review of 400 IU to 2000 IU daily and higher if non-daily
- Fewer pre-infants were vitamin D deficient when they got 800 IU – RCT Feb 2014
- 1600 IU was the conclusion of three JAMA studies
1000 IU recommended in France and Finland – 2013 - appears to be a good level - 5X less mite allergy after add vitamin D
- Child bone fractures with low vitamin D were 55X more likely to need surgery
- 75 % of SIDS had low vitamin D
- Children stayed in ICU 3.5 days longer if low vitamin D – Dec 2015
- 5 out of 6 children who died in pediatric critical care unit had low vitamin D – May 2014
- Infants have gotten free 400 IU of vitamin D in Turkey since 2005, More for longer would be even better – Feb 2022
- Preemies should have vitamin D supplements – reaching an agreement – April 2021
- Vitamin D loading dose was as effective as daily dosing (rickets in this case) – RCT July 2021
Having a good level of vitamin D cuts in half the amount of:
- Asthma, Chronic illness, Doctor visits, Allergies, infection
Respiratory Tract Infection, Growing pains, Bed wetting
Need even more IUs of vitamin D to get a good level if;
- Have little vitamin D: premie, twin, mother did not get much sun access
- Get little vitamin D: dark skin, little access to sun
- Vitamin D is consumed faster than normal due to sickness
- Older (need at least 100 IU/kilogram, far more if obese)
- Not get any vitamin D from formula (breast fed) or (fortified) milk
Note – formula does not even provide 400 IU of vitamin D daily
Infants-Children need Vitamin D
- Sun is great – well known for 1,000’s of years.
US govt (1934) even said infants should be out in the sun - One country recommended 2,000 IU daily for decades – with no known problems
- As with adults, infants and children can have loading doses and rarely need tests
- Daily dose appears to be best, but monthly seems OK
- Vitamin D is typically given to infants in the form of drops
big difference in taste between brands
can also use water-soluable form of vitamin D in milk, food, juice, - Infants have evolved to get a big boost of vitamin D immediately after birth
Colostrum has 3X more vitamin D than breast milk - provided the mother has any vitamin D to spare - 100 IU per kg of infant July 2011, Poland etc.
More than 100 IU/kg is probably better