Abstract
Phototherapy for the treatment of neonatal jaundice has now been widely accepted. Its effect on Vitamin D metabolism is however unknown. In this study 10 full-term jaundiced babies receiving phototherapy were investigated. Serum 25OHD, 24,25(OH)2D, Ca and P were measured. Samples were taken before the onset of phototherapy, 48 hours after the onset and 24 hours after the finish of phototherapy. The mean weight of the 10 babies was 3.4 kg, mean age of onset of phototherapy 64 hours of age,mean bilirubin level at onset 17.1mg%. The mean duration of phototherapy was 83 hours. Causes of jaundice were G6PD deficiency (1), rhesus incompatibility (1), blood group incompatibility (3), and unknown (5). Infants were nursed naked under the phototherapy light which was provided by seven daylight fluorescent lamps 60 cm above the baby. Babies were fed a cow's milk formula not containing Vit. D. The mean serum 25OHD and serum 24,25(OH)2D before phototherapy were 8.49±6.91 ng/ml and 1.29±2.64 respectively, 48 hours after the onset were 8.72±6.10 and 0.84±1.53 and 24 hours after the finish were 7.51±5.34 and 0.46±0.74 respectively. Mean calcium values before and 24 hours after the finish of phototherapy were 9.36±1.10 mg% and 9.83±0.93 mg%. Likewise mean phosphate values were 6.19±1.58 and 7.35±0.97 mg%. The results of this preliminary study thus suggest that the neonatal jaundiced skin does not convert provitamin D to active Vitamin D in response to phototherapy light (420λ). Neither was hypo or hypercalcaemia observed after phototherapy as has been previously reported.
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Dan-Ierodiaconou, E., Mengreli, C., Pantelakis, S. et al. The Effect of Phototherapy on Neonatal Vitamin D Metabolism. Pediatr Res 14, 1418 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198012000-00060
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198012000-00060
This article is cited by
-
Correlation between serum vitamin D level and neonatal indirect hyperbilirubinemia
BMC Pediatrics (2018)