Vitamin D status of low birth weight infants in Delhi: a comparative study.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate vitamin D status and related outcomes (including calcium levels) in preterm, term low birthweight, and term normal birthweight infants at birth and in early infancy.
Results Summary
The study found a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in both low birthweight and normal birthweight infants, with clinical rickets present in 13.4% of LBW and 4.9% of NBW infants by 12-14 weeks. Raised PTH levels were common, indicating potential calcium metabolism disturbances.
Population
Preterm and term low birthweight (LBW) infants, term normal birthweight (NBW) infants, and their mothers.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Follow-up at 3 months (median corrected age of 12-15 weeks)
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
- | no change | vitamin D deficiency (VDD; serum 25OHD <20 ng/ml in mothers and <15 ng/ml in infants) | LBW infants at birth | 87.3% | was present in 186 (87.3%) | #1 |
- | no change | vitamin D deficiency (VDD; serum 25OHD <20 ng/ml in mothers and <15 ng/ml in infants) | NBW infants at birth | 88.6% | was present in 103 (88.6%) | #2 |
- | no change | vitamin D deficiency (VDD; serum 25OHD <20 ng/ml in mothers and <15 ng/ml in infants) | LBW infants at a median corrected age of 12 weeks | 60.6% | was present in 77 (60.6%) | #3 |
- | no change | vitamin D deficiency (VDD; serum 25OHD <20 ng/ml in mothers and <15 ng/ml in infants) | NBW infants at a median corrected age of 15 weeks | 71.6% | was present in 55 (71.6%) | #4 |
- | no change | vitamin D deficiency (VDD; serum 25OHD <20 ng/ml in mothers and <15 ng/ml in infants) | mothers of both groups | 93-97% | was almost universal (93-97%) | #5 |
- | increase | raised PTH (>46 pg/ml) | LBW infants at birth | 63.6% | was present in 138 (63.6%) | #6 |
- | increase | raised PTH (>46 pg/ml) | NBW infants at birth | 41.4% | was present in 48 (41.4%) | #7 |
- | increase | raised PTH (>46 pg/ml) | LBW infants at follow-up | 45.7% | was present in 58 (45.7%) | #8 |
- | increase | raised PTH (>46 pg/ml) | NBW infants at follow-up | 49.3% | was present in 38 (49.3%) | #9 |
- | no change | clinical rickets | LBW infants at 12-14 weeks of corrected age | 13.4% | was present in 17 (13.4%) | #10 |
- | no change | clinical rickets | NBW infants at 12-14 weeks of corrected age | 4.9% | was present in 4 (4.9%) | #11 |
various vitamin D supplementation regimens | neutral | vitamin D deficiency and clinical rickets | LBW as well as NBW infants | - | underlines the need to study the effect | #12 |
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate vitamin D status of preterm and term low birthweight (LBW) and term normal birth weight (NBW; weight ≥ 2500 g) infants at birth and in early infancy. METHODS: We enrolled 220 LBW and 119 NBW infants along with their mothers. Blood samples of both infants and mothers were taken within 48 h of birth, and that of infants were repeated at 3 months. Serum levels of calcium, phosphate, alkaline phosphatase, 25 hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) and parathormone (PTH) were estimated using standard tests. Our primary outcome was vitamin D deficiency (VDD; serum 25OHD <20 ng/ml in mothers and <15 ng/ml in infants). Other outcomes were raised PTH (>46 pg/ml), raised AlkP (>120 U/l in mothers and 420 U/l in infants), and clinical rickets. FINDINGS: VDD was present in 186 (87.3%) of LBW and 103 (88.6%) of NBW infants at birth, and in 77 (60.6%) of LBW and 55 (71.6%) of NBW infants at a median corrected age of 12 and 15 weeks, respectively. VDD was almost universal (93-97%) among mothers of both groups. Raised PTH was present in 138 (63.6%) of LBW and 48 (41.4%) of NBW infants at birth, and in 58 (45.7%) of LBW and 38 (49.3%) of NBW infants at follow-up. Clinical rickets was present in 17 (13.4%) of LBW and 4 (4.9%) of NBW infants at 12-14 weeks of corrected age. CONCLUSIONS: High prevalence of VDD in LBW as well as NBW infants with clinical rickets at an early age underlines the need to study the effect of various vitamin D supplementation regimens in these infants to identify the optimal dose.