title: Effect of weekly vitamin D supplements on mortality, morbidity, and growth of low birthweight term infants in India up to age 6 months: randomised controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether vitamin D supplementation can decrease the mortality and morbidity of low birthweight infants in low income countries.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomised controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Large government hospital in New Delhi, India.
  
  
  METHODS
  2079 low birthweight infants born at term (>37 weeks' gestation).
  
  
  METHODS
  Primary outcome was admission to hospital or death during the first six months of life. Main secondary outcome was growth.
  
  
  METHODS
  Weekly vitamin D supplements for six months at a dose of one recommended nutrient intake per day (35 µg/week). Infants were visited weekly at home for observed supplementation and were brought to the clinic monthly for clinical examination and anthropometric measurements.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between group differences were not significant for death or hospital admissions (92 among 1039 infants in the vitamin D group v 99 among 1040 infants in the placebo group; adjusted rate ratio 0.93, 95% confidence interval 0.68 to 1.29; P = 0.68), or referral to the outpatient clinic for moderate morbidity. Vitamin D supplementation resulted in better vitamin D status as assessed by plasma calcidiol levels at six months. In adjusted analyses, vitamin D treatment significantly increased standard deviation (z) scores at six months for weight, length, and arm circumference and decreased the proportion of children with stunted growth (length for age z score ≤ 2) or with arm circumference z scores of 2 or less.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A weekly dose of vitamin D resulted in better vitamin D status and benefited the classic vitamin D function of bone growth but did not decrease the incidence of severe morbidity or death among young low birthweight infants. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00415402.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Home Economics, Delhi University, F-4 Haus Khas Enclave, New Delhi 110016, India. geetatrilokkumar@gmail.com
authors.forename: Geeta Trilok
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Harshpal Singh
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Sachdev
authors.forename: Harish
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chellani
authors.forename: Andrea M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Rehman
authors.forename: Vini
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Harsh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Arora
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Filteau
mesh_terms: D019587:Dietary Supplements; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007223:Infant; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight / Q000254:growth & development*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D