Vitamin D supplementation is associated with higher serum 25OHD in Asian and White infants living in Vancouver, Canada. Issue 2 (15th October 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Green, Tim J.; Li, Wangyang; Barr, Susan I.; Jahani, Mitra; Chapman, Gwen E.
• Is Part Of: Maternal and child nutrition. Volume 11:Issue 2(2015)
• Page Start: 253
• Page End: 259
• Publication Date: 2012-10-15
• Subjects: Children -- Nutrition -- Periodicals; Infants -- Nutrition -- Periodicals; Pregnancy -- Nutritional aspects -- Periodicals; Breastfeeding -- Periodicals; 363.8083
• DOI: 10.1111/mcn.12008
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1740-8695

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>To prevent rickets, the Health Canada and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that breastfed infants receive a daily vitamin D supplement of 10 <italic>μ</italic>g d<sup>−1</sup>. Compliance with this recommendation is variable and its effect on infant vitamin D status is unclear. We measured serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) in Asian immigrant (<italic>n</italic> = 28) and White (<italic>n</italic> = 37) mothers and their infants aged 2–4 months living in Vancouver (49°N). Mothers completed health and demographic questionnaires. All subjects were term infants who were primarily breastfed. Analysis of variance, <italic>χ</italic><sup>2</sup>, multiple regression and logistic regression analysis were performed as appropriate. Mean 25OHD of the infants was 31 (95% confidence interval 28–34) ng mL<sup>−1</sup>. Only two infants had a 25OHD concentration indicative of deficiency, <10 ng mL<sup>−1</sup>. Of the infants, 14% (<italic>n</italic> = 9) and 49% (<italic>n</italic> = 32) were vitamin D insufficient based on two commonly used cut‐offs of 20 and 30 ng mL<sup>−1</sup>, respectively. Fifty‐eight (89%) infants had been given a vitamin D supplement. Mean 25OHD was 9.4 ng mL<sup>−1</sup> higher in infants consuming ≥10 <italic>μ</italic>g d<sup>−1</sup> of vitamin D from supplements vs. those consuming less (<italic>P</italic> = 0.003). Mother's 25OHD, season, skin colour or ethnicity (Asian vs. White) did not influence infant 25OHD. The infants in our study, most of whom received vitamin D supplements, were generally protected against low 25OHD. The study was limited by sample size and the nature of the cross‐sectional study design.</p> </abstract>