Ghulam Mustafa, Muhammad Aslam, Imran Iqbal, Ijaz Ahmad, Abu Talib, Nadir Bashir.
Low vitamin D status in infants aged 1-6 months & risk factors.
Pak Paed J Jan ;40(2):104-12.

Objectives: To assess vitamin D status and its determinants in infants aged 1-6 months, of south Punjab. Methods: Sixty infants, 30 each healthy & sick, 1-6 months were recruited, from August 2010 to June 2011. The vitamin D levels & its determinants were ascertained & analyzed with SPSS 17. Results: The mean age of healthy infants (n = 30) was 83 ± 55 (mean ± S.D) days. Among them, 76.7% belonged to low socio economic strata. Serum 25(OH)D ranged 10.1- 82 nmol/L, mean 29.95 ± 22.09 nmol/L and median was 19.53 nmol/L. The infants with 25(OH)D level <30 nmol/L were 70%, <50 nmol/L were 80% and all were below 85 nmol/L. The 80% males & 100% females had vitamin D <50 nmol/L. Of the 60 infants (sick & healthy), the mean 25(OH)D was 34.4 ± 25.23 nmol/L. Of these 48% (28) had vitamin D <20 nmol/L, 57% (33) had < 30 nmol/L, and 81% (48) had <50 nmol/L. Age and income were only factors, In this group, that had some association with vitamin D deficiency (25(OH)D <30 nmol/L). The deficient infants/toddlers were stunted. The mothers of infants with ≥30 nmol/L 25(OH)D consumed more milk, meat, and eggs and their intake of calcium containing food was higher(>750 mg/ day). Conclusions: The majority of Pakistani infants in the south Punjab are vitamin D deficient & universal antenatal and/or infant vitamin D supplementation is the need of the hour.

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