Low vitamin D status in infants aged 1-6 months & risk factors

Objectives: to assess vitamin d status and its determinants in infants aged 1-6 months,of south punjab. methods: sixty infants,30 each healthy & sick,1-6 months were recruited,from august 2010 to june 2011. the vitamin d levels & its determinants were ascertained & analyzed with spss 17. results: the mean age of healthy infants (n = 30) was 83 ± 55 (mean ± s.d) days. among them,76.7% belonged to low socio economic strata. serum 25(oh)d ranged 10.1- 82 nmol/l,mean 29.95 ± 22.09 nmol/l and median was 19.53 nmol/l. the infants with 25(oh)d level <30 nmol/l were 70%,<50 nmol/l were 80% and all were below 85 nmol/l. the 80% males & 100% females had vitamin d <50 nmol/l. of the 60 infants (sick & healthy),the mean 25(oh)d was 34.4 ± 25.23 nmol/l. of these 48% (28) had vitamin d <20 nmol/l,57% (33) had < 30 nmol/l,and 81% (48) had <50 nmol/l. age and income were only factors,in this group,that had some association with vitamin d deficiency (25(oh)d <30 nmol/l). the deficient infants/toddlers were stunted. the mothers of infants with ≥30 nmol/l 25(oh)d consumed more milk,meat,and eggs and their intake of calcium containing food was higher(>750 mg/ day). conclusions: the majority of pakistani infants in the south punjab are vitamin d deficient & universal antenatal and/or infant vitamin d supplementation is the need of the hour. © 2016,elsevier. all rights reserved.