Hypovitaminosis D and vitamin D deficiency in exclusively breast-feeding infants and their mothers in summer: a justification for vitamin D supplementation of breast-feeding infants.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in exclusively breast-feeding infants and their mothers in a community where maternal sunshine exposure is low.


METHODS
Serum levels of calcium, phosphate, alkaline phosphatase, 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25-OHD), and intact parathyroid hormone were measured in 90 unsupplemented healthy term breast-feeding Arab/South Asian infants and their mothers in summer. Maternal dietary vitamin D intake was also estimated.


RESULTS
The median age of infants was 6 weeks. The median serum 25-OHD concentrations in mothers (8.6 ng/mL) and infants (4.6 ng/mL) were low, and 61% of the mothers and 82% of the 78 infants tested had hypovitaminosis D (serum 25-OHD <10 ng/mL). The infants with hypovitaminosis D had elevated serum alkaline phosphatase and a tendency to higher serum intact parathyroid hormone levels. The average daily maternal vitamin D intake from commercial milk was 88 IU.


CONCLUSIONS
Hypovitaminosis D is common in summer in exclusively breast-feeding infants and their mothers. The results provide justification for vitamin D supplementation of breast-feeding infants and mothers in the United Arab Emirates. Low vitamin D intake probably contributed to low maternal vitamin D status.
Dawodu
Adekunle
A
Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, UAE University, United Arab Emirates.
Agarwal
Mukesh
M
Hossain
Moshaddeque
M
Kochiyil
Jose
J
Zayed
Reem
R
D015652:25-Hydroxyvitamin D 2 / Q000097:blood; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food; D007228:Infant Nutrition Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D010154:Pakistan / Q000208:ethnology; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood; D010710:Phosphates / Q000097:blood; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012621:Seasons; D014479:United Arab Emirates / Q000453:epidemiology; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control
D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D010710:Phosphates; D014807:Vitamin D; D015652:25-Hydroxyvitamin D 2; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D002118:Calcium