title: Vitamin D3 Supplementation During Pregnancy and Lactation Improves Vitamin D Status of the Mother-Infant Dyad.
abstract: To identify the combined effect of prenatal and postnatal vitamin D3 supplementation on the vitamin D status of pregnant and lactating women and their exclusively breastfed infants.
  
  
  
  Double-blind, randomized controlled trial.
  
  
  
  Upper Midwestern U.S., hospital-based obstetric practice.
  
  
  
  Pregnant women (N = 13) planning to exclusively breastfeed were randomized at 24 to 28 weeks gestation to receive vitamin D3 at a dosage of 400 IU (control group, n = 6) or 3,800 IU (intervention group, n = 7) daily through 4 to 6 weeks postpartum. Vitamin D status was determined at enrollment and in mother-infant dyads at 24 to 72 hours after birth and 4 to 6 weeks postpartum.
  
  
  
  Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were measured to determine the effect of vitamin D3 supplementation on the vitamin D status of mothers and infants. Analysis of covariance was used to compare differences in 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels between the control and intervention groups.
  
  
  
  The mothers' vitamin D levels were significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group at birth (p = .044) and at 4 to 6 weeks postpartum (p = .002). Infants in the intervention group had significantly higher vitamin D levels at birth (p = .021) and nonsignificant, clinically relevant increases at 4 to 6 weeks of age (p = .256). No differences were found between maternal groups in serum calcium or parathyroid hormone levels.
  
  
  
  Prenatal to postpartum vitamin D3 supplementation is an effective intervention to increase a mother's vitamin D status and to promote optimal vitamin D status in newborns and exclusively breastfed infants.
authors.forename: Doria K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Thiele
authors.forename: Jody
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ralph
authors.forename: Maher
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: El-Masri
authors.forename: Cindy M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D011247:Pregnancy; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D
keywords: breastfeeding; vitamin D deficiency; vitamin D3 supplementation