Global summary of maternal and newborn vitamin D status – a systematic review
Rajneeta Saraf1, Susan M.B. Morton1, Carlos A. Camargo Jr.2 and Cameron C. Grant1,3,4,*
Maternal & Child Nutrition, Article first published online: 15 SEP 2015, DOI: 10.1111/mcn.12210
Pregnant women and newborns are at increased risk of vitamin D deficiency. Our objective was to create a global summary of maternal and newborn vitamin D status. We completed a systematic review (1959–2014) and meta-analysis of studies reporting serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentration in maternal and newborn populations. The 95 identified studies were unevenly distributed by World Health Organization (WHO) region: Americas (24), European (33), Eastern Mediterranean (13), South-East Asian (7), Western Pacific (16) and African (2).
Average maternal 25(OH)D concentrations (nmol L−1) by region were
- 47–65 (Americas),
- 15–72 (European),
- 13–60 (Eastern Mediterranean),
- 20–52 (South-East Asian),
- 42–72 (Western Pacific) and
- 92 (African).
Average newborn 25(OH)D concentrations (nmol L−1) were
- 35–77 (Americas),
- 20–50 (European),
- 5–50 (Eastern Mediterranean),
- 20–22 (South-East Asian),
- 32–67 (Western Pacific) and
- 27–35 (African).
The prevalences of 25(OH)D <50 and <25 nmol L−1 by WHO region in pregnant women were: Americas (64%, 9%), European (57%, 23%), Eastern Mediterranean (46%, 79%), South-East Asian (87%, not available) and Western Pacific (83%, 13%). Among newborns these values were: Americas (30%, 14%), European (73%, 39%), Eastern Mediterranean (60%, not available), South-East Asian (96%, 45%) and Western Pacific (54%, 14%).
By global region, average 25(OH)D concentration varies threefold in pregnant women and newborns, and
prevalence of 25(OH)D <25 nmo L−1 varies
- eightfold in pregnant women and
- threefold in newborns.
Maternal and newborn 25(OH)D concentrations are highly correlated. Addressing vitamin D deficiency in pregnant women and newborns should be a global priority. To protect children from the adverse effects of vitamin D deficiency requires appropriate interventions during both pregnancy and childhood.
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See also VitaminDWiki
- Overview Pregnancy and vitamin D
- 3X more kids were vitamin D deficient when entering UK hospitals than 4 years before – Oct 2014
- Breastfed infants: 90 percent had less than 20 ng of vitamin D, formula-fed: 15 percent – May 2013
Note: the study on this page does not distinguish breastfed from forumula fed infants - Unsupplemented infants were 19X more likely to be vitamin D deficient - May 2012
- Healthy pregnancies need lots of vitamin D
- Routine monitoring of vitamin D during pregnancy is mandatory (Engl. and Port.) - May 2015
- Pregnant women are vitamin D deficient - Map 2013
Brown bar = % of pregnant women with < 20 ng
Infant-Child Intervention trials using Vitamin D:
- Atopic dermatitis reduced by at least half if take 2800 IU Vitamin D while pregnant - RCT May 2025
- 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
- Far fewer respiratory track infections in infants and children getting 400 IU of Vitamin D – many studies
- 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, Vitamin D, Omega-3, etc. - several studies
- 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