With the ever increasing talk of vitamin D being involved in "every"
physiological process under the sun (and not forgetting the latter's
influence on its synthesis), it is indeed surprising that neonates of
mothers not on vitamin D during pregnancy are deemed deficient or
insufficient at birth. Which may or may not be the case? While the
supplementation of neonates with vitamin D in Siafarikas et al's 1 study
boosted the blood levels from insufficient to the perceived sufficient
levels, the group on the higher dose with blood levels of 151 (126-176)
nmol/L were shorter, and had significantly lower body weights at 6 weeks,
which the authors failed to discuss. Could it be too much vitamin D3? It
would be interesting to get the authors' explanation for the slower height
and weight gain in the group supplemented with 500 units of D3.
Reference.
1. Siafarikas A, Piazena H, Feister U, Bulsara MK, Meffert H, Hesse V.
Randomised controlled trial analysing supplementation with 250 versus 500
units of vitamin D3, sun exposure and surrounding factors in breastfed
infants. Arch Dis Child. Published online 22nd September 2010.
With the ever increasing talk of vitamin D being involved in "every" physiological process under the sun (and not forgetting the latter's influence on its synthesis), it is indeed surprising that neonates of mothers not on vitamin D during pregnancy are deemed deficient or insufficient at birth. Which may or may not be the case? While the supplementation of neonates with vitamin D in Siafarikas et al's 1 study boosted the blood levels from insufficient to the perceived sufficient levels, the group on the higher dose with blood levels of 151 (126-176) nmol/L were shorter, and had significantly lower body weights at 6 weeks, which the authors failed to discuss. Could it be too much vitamin D3? It would be interesting to get the authors' explanation for the slower height and weight gain in the group supplemented with 500 units of D3.
Reference. 1. Siafarikas A, Piazena H, Feister U, Bulsara MK, Meffert H, Hesse V. Randomised controlled trial analysing supplementation with 250 versus 500 units of vitamin D3, sun exposure and surrounding factors in breastfed infants. Arch Dis Child. Published online 22nd September 2010.
Conflict of Interest:
None declared