Vitamin D supplementation and gross motor development: A 3-year follow-up of a randomized trial. (August 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Weiler, Hope A.; Hazell, Tom J.; Majnemer, Annette; Vanstone, Catherine A.; Gallo, Sina; Rodd, Celia J.
• Is Part Of: Early human development. Volume 171(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-08
• Subjects: GMD gross motor development -- GMQ gross motor quotient -- PDMS-2 Peabody Developmental Motor Scales-2 -- 25OHD 25-hydroxyvitamin D; Infant -- Vitamin D supplementation -- Season -- Gross motor development; Fetus -- Periodicals; Neonatology -- Periodicals; Prenatal influences -- Periodicals; 612.65
• DOI: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2022.105615
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0378-3782

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Vitamin D status during pregnancy, early childhood and season-at-birth are implicated in gross motor development (GMD). Aim: To test whether vitamin D intake in infancy and season-at-birth affect GMD in early childhood. Study design: 3-year follow up study of a single-center trial. Subjects: Healthy infants (n = 116) were allocated to 400 (standard-of-care), 800 or 1200 IU/day of vitamin D3 supplementation from 1 to 12 months; n = 70 returned for follow-up at 3-years. Outcome measures: The main outcome was GMD using the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales-2 which includes gross motor quotient (GMQ) and stationary, locomotion and object manipulation subtests. Results: GMQ scores were normal (≥85) in 94 %. An interaction between dosage group and season-at-birth (p = 0.01) was observed for GMQ and stationary standardized score; among winter/spring born children, the 1200 IU/d scored higher vs. 400 and 800 IU/d groups. Object manipulation standardized score was higher (p = 0.04) in children in the 1200 vs. 400 IU/d group, without interaction with season-at-birth. Conclusions: GMD in young children who received 400 IU/d of supplemental vitamin D in infancy is not influenced by season-at-birth. This dose of vitamin D of 400 IU/d as recommended in North America adequately supports GMD. The modest enhancement in GMD with 1200 IU/d in winter/spring born children requires further study. Highlights: In North America, vitamin D supplementation (400 IU/d) is recommended for infants. This study tested gross motor development at 36 months of age. Gross motor quotient was not affected by vitamin D dose (400–1200 IU/d) in infancy. A vitamin D dose of 400 IU/d in infancy adequately supports gross motor development