Maternal vitamin D status: effect on milk vitamin D content and vitamin D status of breastfeeding infants.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to reassess the relationship between maternal vitamin D status, human milk vitamin D concentration, and the vitamin D status of breastfeeding infants, and to evaluate high-dose maternal vitamin D supplementation as a potential preventive measure for deficiency.
Results Summary
The study highlights that breastfeeding without adequate sunlight exposure or vitamin D supplementation is a major risk factor for rickets and vitamin D deficiency. It suggests that high-dose maternal vitamin D supplementation may help prevent deficiency in breastfeeding mother-infant pairs.
Population
Breastfeeding mothers and their infants.
Effective Dosage
High-dose maternal vitamin D supplementation (specific dosage not provided).
Duration
Not specified.
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
adequate sunlight exposure and vitamin D supplementation | increase | rickets and vitamin D deficiency | breastfeeding infants | - | are the major risk factors | #1 |
exclusive breastfeeding | increase | exclusive breastfeeding | - | - | promote and increase the rate | #2 |
maternal vitamin D status | neutral | vitamin D status of the breastfeeding infant | breastfeeding mother-infant dyad | - | interrelationship | #3 |
high-dose maternal vitamin D supplementation alone | decrease | vitamin D deficiency | breastfeeding mother-infant dyad | - | effect | #4 |
There are increasing reports of rickets and vitamin D deficiency worldwide. Breastfeeding without adequate sunlight exposure and vitamin D supplementation are the major risk factors. In view of the drive to promote and increase the rate of exclusive breastfeeding, the relationship among maternal vitamin D status, vitamin D concentration of human milk, and hence vitamin D status of breastfeeding infants deserves reassessment. This review provides current information on the interrelationship between maternal vitamin D status and the vitamin D status of the breastfeeding infant. It also reviews the results of ongoing research on the effect of high-dose maternal vitamin D supplementation alone as a possible option to prevent vitamin D deficiency in the breastfeeding mother-infant dyad.