ARS | Publication request: Variations in cord 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in Hispanic and Caucasian infants are not related to neonatal bone mineral status

Submitted to: Journal of Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: January 20, 2010
Publication Date: April 26, 2010
Citation: Hicks, P.D., Hawthorne, K.M., Rogers, S.P., Carpenter, T.O., Abrams, S.A. 2010. Variations in cord 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in Hispanic and Caucasian infants are not related to neonatal bone mineral status [abstract]. Journal of Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology. 24:325.4.

Technical Abstract: At birth, an infant’s vitamin D status, as assessed by 25-hydroxyvitamin D level (25-OHD), is dependent on the 25-OHD status of the mother. There are few data regarding 25-OHD in Hispanic infants and the relationship between 25-OHD and bone mineral outcomes. To evaluate the range of 25-OHD in Hispanic newborn infants (HNI) compared to Caucasian newborn infants (CNI) in a southern US setting and to determine if cord blood 25-OHD is related to bone mineral status in the first week of life. At birth, umbilical cord blood was analyzed using the Diasorin RIA (Diasorin Inc, Stillwater, MN) for 25-OHD. Approximately 1 week after birth, infants’ received a whole body dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry measurement to assess bone mineral content/density (BMC/BMD). Data are Mean +/- SD. The 25-OHD levels were significantly lower in HNI (n=20) versus CNI (n=18) (17.2 +/- 5.7 ng/mL vs 24.1 +/- 6.8 ng/mL, p = 0.002). There was no difference in whole body BMC or BMD between HNI and CNI (BMD: 0.197 +/- 0.013 g/cm2 vs 0.196 +/- 0.011 g/cm2, p = 0.9). Using a value of 20 ng/mL to indicate possible vitamin D insufficiency there was no difference in BMC or BMD of 19 infants with 25-OHD levels < 20 ng/mL vs 19 infants with 25-OHD levels 20 ng/mL (BMD: 0.195 +/- 0.015 g/cm2 vs 0.197 +/- 0.011 g/cm2, p = 0.8). Hispanic newborns in a southern US setting have lower 25-OHD than Caucasians, but this is not related to newborn bone mineral status.