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  • Original Article
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Race differences in the association between multivitamin exposure and wheezing in preterm infants

Abstract

Objective:

We aimed to determine whether vitamin D exposure, as estimated by use of multivitamins, is positively or negatively associated with recurrent wheezing in infants born preterm.

Study Design:

This prospective cohort study enrolled 300 infants, born at 280/7 to 346/7 weeks gestational age, and conducted follow-up at 3-, 6-, 9- and 12-month adjusted age.

Result:

Black (55.9%) and non-black (36.6%) infants experienced recurrent wheezing. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for the association between multivitamin exposure at 3 months and recurrent wheezing were 2.15 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.97, 4.75) for black and 0.43 (95% CI: 0.19, 0.96) for non-black infants with an interaction by race (P=0.003). In lag-effect models, ORs were 2.69 (95% CI: 1.41, 5.14) for black and 0.50 (95% CI: 0.27, 0.92) for non-black infants.

Conclusion:

Differences by race were seen in association between multivitamins and wheezing; population heterogeneity should be considered when evaluating vitamin supplementation.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the NICHD (K23HD056299) and the CTSC of Cleveland (UL1TR000439).

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Correspondence to A M Hibbs.

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Hibbs, A., Babineau, D., Wang, X. et al. Race differences in the association between multivitamin exposure and wheezing in preterm infants. J Perinatol 35, 192–197 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2014.176

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