The Association of Vitamin D Status with Acute Respiratory Morbidity in Preterm Infants.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) levels and outcomes in preterm infants (<32 weeks gestation).


METHODS
Serum 25OHD was measured in mothers and their infants within 24 hours of birth, before the start of enteral vitamin D supplementation, and at discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit. We evaluated the associations between vitamin D status and various early preterm outcomes.


RESULTS
Ninety-four preterm infants and their mothers were included; 92% of the infants had a 25OHD level≤50 nmol/L (20 ng/mL), and 64% had a 25OHD level<30 nmol/L (12 ng/mL). A low 25OHD level (<30 nmol/L) in preterm infants at birth was associated with increased oxygen requirement (P=.008), increased duration of intermittent positive-pressure ventilation during resuscitation at delivery (P=.032), and greater need for assisted ventilation (P=.013).


CONCLUSIONS
We observed a high prevalence of low 25OHD (<30 nmol/L), and found an association between vitamin D status and acute respiratory morbidity in preterm infants after birth.
Department of Neonatology, National Maternity Hospital, Dublin, Ireland; Department of Endocrinology, Children's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland; School of Medicine and Medical Sciences, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Chike
C
Onwuneme
Department of Neonatology, National Maternity Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
Fidelma
F
Martin
Department of Neonatology, National Maternity Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
Roberta
R
McCarthy
Department of Endocrinology, Children's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
Aoife
A
Carroll
Centre for Support and Training in Analysis and Research, School of Public Health, Physiotherapy, and Population Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Ricardo
R
Segurado
Department of Neonatology, National Maternity Hospital, Dublin, Ireland; School of Medicine and Medical Sciences, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland; Department of Pediatrics, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland.
John
J
Murphy
Department of Neonatology, National Maternity Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
Anne
A
Twomey
Department of Endocrinology, Children's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
Nuala
N
Murphy
Department of Endocrinology, St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
Mark
M
Kilbane
School of Medicine and Medical Sciences, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland; Department of Endocrinology, St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
Malachi
M
McKenna
Department of Neonatology, National Maternity Hospital, Dublin, Ireland; School of Medicine and Medical Sciences, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland; Department of Pediatrics, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland; Department of Neonatology, Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland; Department of Pediatrics, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland. Electronic address: elesean@hotmail.com.
Eleanor
E
Molloy
D000284:Administration, Oral; D015992:Body Mass Index; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D020345:Enterocolitis, Necrotizing / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007234:Infant, Premature; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal; D007385:Intermittent Positive-Pressure Ventilation; D008297:Male; D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D010100:Oxygen; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use
D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D; D010100:Oxygen