Abstract
BackgroundTo determine the efficacy and safety of early supplementation with 800 IU of vitamin D in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants.MethodsSixty-six infants with a birth weight less than 1500 g admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Of these, 52 infants were eligible and received 800 IU/day vitamin D from 2 weeks of age. We examined 25-hydroxyvitamin-D (25[OH]D) levels from cord blood at birth and serum at 32 and 36 weeks of postmenstrual age.ResultsThe study infants were divided by cord-blood levels of 25(OH)D at birth into 25(OH)D concentrations < 10 ng/mL (n = 20) or ≥ 10 ng/mL (n = 29). Vitamin D intake of 800 IU/day safely achieved an 88% probability of vitamin D sufficiency at 36 weeks postmenstrual age in VLBW infants with cord-blood levels of 25(OH)D ≥ 10 ng/mL, and 65% probability of vitamin D sufficiency was observed in infants with 25 OHD concentrations < 10 ng/mL at birth.ConclusionConsidering the efficacy and safety of vitamin D supplementation in this study, vitamin D intake of 800 IU/day may enhance vitamin D status during early hospitalization in VLBW infants with 25 OHD concentrations < 10 ng/mL at birth. The clinical significance of optimal vitamin D intake in VLBW infants needs to be studied in larger controlled studies.
Highlights
To determine the efficacy and safety of early supplementation with 800 IU of vitamin D in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants
The aim of this study was to determine whether daily vitamin D supplementation with a high dose of 800 IU is safe and effective to increase the proportion of VLBW infants with 25(OH)D > 30 ng/mL, from 2 weeks of age until hospital discharge
Study protocol At birth, serum calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase and 25(OH)D concentrations were obtained from cord blood samples before vitamin D supplementation was started
Summary
To determine the efficacy and safety of early supplementation with 800 IU of vitamin D in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. Very low birth weight (VLBW) infants often have less time to store vitamin D from mother due to a decreased trans-placental transfer and may have an increased vitamin D requirement. Considering the high incidence of vitamin D deficiency/ insufficiency in preterm infants that miss the late gestation period, which builds vitamin D stores from mother to fetus, a vitamin D supply might be necessary and urgent to compensate the sufficient vitamin D level. While breast milk feeding is currently recommended as a source of early nutrition in full and preterm infants, an
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