title: Vitamin D levels in Malawian infants from birth to 24 months.
abstract: We measured longitudinal levels of vitamin D in unsupplemented Malawian infants at 0 (birth), 2, 12, 15, 18 and 24 months of age. Matched maternal plasma and breast milk vitamin D(2) and D(3) levels were also measured at delivery and 2 months postpartum. Vitamin D was measured using isotope-dilution liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry. Vitamin D(3) levels in children were 36% of adult levels at birth, 60% of adult levels at age 2 months, and at par with adult levels by 12 months of age. This adult-equivalent level is subsequently maintained through age 24 months and consisted of a 98% molar ratio of vitamin D(3). Vitamin D levels in breast milk were below the limit of detection, 0.1 ng/ml. Breast milk of unsupplemented Malawian mothers is a poor source of vitamin D.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Meyer B-125f, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA. tamukel1@jhmi.edu
authors.forename: Timothy K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Amukele
authors.forename: Dean
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Soko
authors.forename: Pauline
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Katundu
authors.forename: Melvin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kamanga
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Newton I
authors.initials: NI
authors.lastname: Kumwenda
authors.forename: Taha E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Taha
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008295:Malawi / Q000453:epidemiology; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry*; D009017:Morbidity; D009035:Mothers; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D