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Neonatal vitamin D status at birth at latitude 32°72′: evidence of deficiency

Journal of Perinatology volume 27, pages 568–571 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective:

With vitamin D deficiency as a serious public health problem, vitamin D status at birth was measured in neonates at latitude 32°72′ (southeastern United States).

Study Design:

In umbilical cord blood, vitamin D status, demonstrated by circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D, was measured and related to race and season of birth.

Result:

The mean±standard deviation of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in 100 cord blood samples was 13.5±8.3 ng/ml for the cohort. African-American infants, with a mean±standard deviation of 10.5±6.0 ng/ml, demonstrated significantly lower vitamin D status than Caucasian infants, with a mean±standard deviation of 19.5±9.6 ng/ml (P<0.0001). By season, the mean 25-hydroxyvitamin D level at birth in November–March compared to April–October was 11.3 ng/ml lower in Caucasian infants (from 29.0 to 17.7 ng/ml) and 3 ng/ml lower in African-American infants (from 13.1 to 10.1 ng/ml).

Conclusion:

The prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency is high in this cohort. African-American infants demonstrate significantly lower vitamin D status at birth than Caucasian infants. Seasonality, while significant in both groups, had a greater impact on the vitamin D status of Caucasian newborns.

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Acknowledgements

Dr Hollis serves as scientific advisor for Diasorin Corporation. This study was funded in part from a grant from the University Research Committee, from the General Clinical Research Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, NIH no.RR01070 and NIH 5R01HD043921-03.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA

    L A Basile, S N Taylor, C L Wagner, L Quinones & B W Hollis

Authors
  1. L A Basile
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  2. S N Taylor
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  3. C L Wagner
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  4. L Quinones
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  5. B W Hollis
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to C L Wagner.

Additional information

Presented in part at the Pediatric Academic Societies Annual Meeting in Washington, DC, in May 2005.

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Basile, L., Taylor, S., Wagner, C. et al. Neonatal vitamin D status at birth at latitude 32°72′: evidence of deficiency. J Perinatol 27, 568–571 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jp.7211796

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