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Functional indicators of vitamin D adequacy for very low birth weight infants

Abstract

Objective

To identify the vitamin D status to optimize calcium and bone health in preterm infants.

Study design

Very low birth weight infants had measurement of 25-hydroxyvitamin D status and markers of calcium and bone health from birth to term age. Piecewise linear regression modeling was performed to identify a 25-hydroxyvitamin D threshold associated with stable parathyroid hormone concentration and bone mineralization.

Results

In a cohort of 89 infants at term age, femur BMC and density increased linearly with 25-hydroxyvitamin D status until reaching a threshold of 48 ng/mL and 46 ng/mL, respectively. Parathyroid hormone status decreased as vitamin D status increased until reaching a plateau at 25-hydroxyvitamin D of 42 ng/mL.

Conclusion

Preterm infant vitamin D status was significantly associated with PTH status and femur mineralization with suggestion that achieving a specific 25-hydroxyvitamin concentration is associated with optimal calcium homeostasis and femur bone mineralization.

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Funding

NIH/NCRR (K23 RR021891) and National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) program, grant (UL1TR001450).

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Correspondence to Sarah N. Taylor.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Taylor, S.N., Wahlquist, A., Wagner, C.L. et al. Functional indicators of vitamin D adequacy for very low birth weight infants. J Perinatol 38, 550–556 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-018-0098-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-018-0098-7

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