%0 Journal Article %A Timothy K Amukele %A Dean Soko %A Pauline Katundu %A Melvin Kamanga %A Jin Sun %A Newton I Kumwenda %A Taha E Taha %T Vitamin D levels in Malawian infants from birth to 24 months %D 2013 %R 10.1136/archdischild-2012-302377 %J Archives of Disease in Childhood %P 180-183 %V 98 %N 3 %X 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 D2 and D3 levels were also measured at delivery and 2 months postpartum. Vitamin D was measured using isotope-dilution liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry. Vitamin D3 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 D3. 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. %U https://adc.bmj.com/content/archdischild/98/3/180.full.pdf