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Maternal nutrition, infants and children

Maternal and infant vitamin D status during the first 9 months of infant life—a cohort study

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 67, pages 1022–1028 (2013)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/objectives:

The objective of this study was to assess vitamin D status and possible consequences of low plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) levels in a population of healthy mothers and their infants.

Subjects/methods:

A total of 107 women aged 24–41 years gave birth to 108 infants. They were followed up three times during 9 months.

Results:

Cord blood 25OHD level (43.3±20.4 nmol/l) on average was 62±16% of maternal levels (73.3±30.7 nmol/l), measured 1–2 weeks postpartum. Cord blood 25OHD correlated positively with maternal 25OHD levels (r=0.83, P<0.001). At birth, 23% of mothers and 61% of infants had 25OHD <50 nmol/l. Vitamin D deficiency (25OHD<25 nmol/l) was present in 66% of the children born by mothers with 25OHD levels below 50 nmol/l (P<0.01), whereas only one child was born with deficiency among mothers with 25OHD >50 nmol/l. During follow-up, most of the children (>85%) had 25OHD levels >50 nmol/l, which most likely was attributable to the use of supplements, as more than 95% of the children were given daily vitamin D supplements of 10 μg of vitamin D.

Cord blood parathyroid hormone levels were very low (median 0.21; interquartile range 0.11–0.33 pmol/l), with increasing levels (P<0.01) reaching 3.08 (2.67–3.92 pmol/l) at the last visit. Vitamin D levels were not associated with anthropometric indices of the newborn infant or their growth during follow-up.

Conclusions:

Vitamin D deficiency is widespread in newborn. Maternal 25OHD levels above 50 nmol/l are needed to prevent vitamin D deficiency among newborn.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Endocrinology and Internal Medicine (MEA), Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark

    S við Streym, U Kristine Moller, L Rejnmark, L Mosekilde & P Vestergaard

  2. Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark

    L Heickendorff

  3. Clinical Institute, Alborg University, Aalborg, Denmark

    P Vestergaard

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við Streym, S., Kristine Moller, U., Rejnmark, L. et al. Maternal and infant vitamin D status during the first 9 months of infant life—a cohort study. Eur J Clin Nutr 67, 1022–1028 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2013.152

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