title: Vitamin D deficiency among healthy infants and toddlers: a prospective study from Irbid, Jordan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among healthy infants and toddlers, as well as its associated factors, in Irbid, Jordan.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 275 subjects (136 infants and 139 toddlers) aged 6-36 months participated in this study. Information concerning sociodemographic characteristics and early feeding patterns was collected using a self-guided questionnaire. Plasma vitamin D, calcium, phosphorous, and alkaline phosphatase activity were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was 28% (16.7% for severe vitamin D deficiency and 11.3% for vitamin D deficiency) and vitamin D insufficiency was 28.4%. Plasma calcium and alkaline phosphatase levels showed no correlation with the vitamin D status of the study population. For both age groups, a significant association was found between vitamin D status and sun exposure (P < 0.001). A significant association between infant feeding practices and vitamin D status was found (P < 0.001). Infants who were exclusively breast-fed had higher risk for vitamin D deficiency and vitamin D insufficiency than those who were bottle-fed. Multivariate logistic regression analyses results showed that female sex, low sun exposure and exclusive breast-feeding were the main determinants of vitamin D levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency is considered to be high among northern Jordanian infants and toddlers. Sun exposure of less than 30 min daily and exclusively breast-feeding are the main factors for developing vitamin D deficiency.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan. kkalani@just.edu.jo
authors.forename: Khalid K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Abdul-Razzak
authors.forename: Mohammed-Jafar A
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Ajlony
authors.forename: Abeer M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Khoursheed
authors.forename: Bayan A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Obeidat
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007597:Jordan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D