Vitamin A and sudden infant death syndrome in Scandinavia 1992-1995.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effect of vitamin supplementation on the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).


METHODS
The analyses are based on data from the Nordic Epidemiological SIDS Study, a case-control study in which parents of SIDS victims in the Scandinavian countries were invited to participate together with parents of four matched controls between 1 September 1992 and 31 August 1995. The odds ratios presented are computed by conditional logistic regression analysis.


RESULTS
The crude odds ratio in Scandinavia for not giving vitamin substitution was 2.8 (95% CI (1.9, 4.3)). This effect was statistically significant in Norway and Sweden, which use A and D vitamin supplementation, but not in Denmark, where only vitamin D supplementation is given. The odds ratios remained significant in Sweden when an adjustment was made for confounding factors (OR 28.4, 95% CI (4.7, 171.3)).


CONCLUSIONS
We found an association between increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome and infants not being given vitamin supplementation during their first year of life. This was highly significant in Sweden, and the effect is possibly connected with vitamin A deficiency. This effect persisted when an adjustment was made for potential confounders, includingsocioeconomic factors.
Alm
B
B
Department of Paediatrics, Institute for the Health of Women and Children, Queen Silvia Children's Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden. bernt.alm@medfak.gu.se
Wennergren
G
G
Norvenius
S G
SG
Skjaerven
R
R
Lagercrantz
H
H
Helweg-Larsen
K
K
Irgens
L M
LM
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003060:Cod Liver Oil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000592:standards* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013398:Sudden Infant Death / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000592:standards* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*
D014801:Vitamin A; D003060:Cod Liver Oil