Hypocalcemia due to vitamin D deficiency in exclusively breastfed infants.
This report is based on observations during the conduct of a study of hypocalcemia in infants and children. In a study of 50 cases, 13 exclusively breast fed infants manifesting with hypocalcemic seizures were confirmed to have vitamin D deficiency. None of the 13 infants had received vitamin D supplementation. All of them had biochemical evidence of hyperparathyroidism and low levels of 25 (OH) Vit D3 and promptly responded to therapy with vitamin D and calcium. All the mothers of these 13 infants had low levels of 25 (OH) Vit D3. Mothers of 5 infants had reported reduced exposure to sunlight due to religious reasons. This report emphasizes the need to supplement Vitamin D in exclusively breast fed infants and also to encourage exposure to sunlight in them and their mothers.
Balasubramanian
S
S
Kanchi Kamakoti Childs Trust Hospital (KKCTH), 12- A, Nageswara Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai 600 034. Tamil Nadu, India. sbsped53@sify.com
Shivbalan
So
S
Kumar
P Saravana
PS
D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002118:Calcium / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006996:Hypocalcemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012640:Seizures / Q000209:etiology*; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*
D014807:Vitamin D; D002118:Calcium