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Research Project: ABSORPTION AND METABOLISM OF ESSENTIAL MINERAL NUTRIENTS IN CHILDREN

Location: Children Nutrition Research Center (Houston, Tx)

Title: Effects of ethnicity and vitamin D supplementation on vitamin D status and changes in bone mineral content in infants

Authors
item Abrams, Steven -
item Hawthorne, Keli -
item Rogers, Stephanie -
item Hicks, Penni -
item Carpenter, Thomas -

Submitted to: BMC Pediatrics
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: January 16, 2012
Publication Date: January 16, 2012
Citation: Abrams, S.A., Hawthorne, K.M., Rogers, S.P., Hicks, P.D., Carpenter, T.O. 2012. Effects of ethnicity and vitamin D supplementation on vitamin D status and changes in bone mineral content in infants. BMC Pediatrics. 12:6.

Interpretive Summary: We found that low 25(OH)D levels are common in newborns in a southern US climate, especially among Hispanic infants. Improvement occurred with vitamin D supplementation and was not related to changes in bone mineral content. Our findings support current guidelines to begin vitamin D supplementation of 400 IU/day to all breast-fed infants in the first week of life and to further encourage the provision of adequate vitamin D to pregnant women. Larger studies are needed in diverse populations at various latitudes to further characterize the relationship between vitamin D supplementation and bone mineral content.

Technical Abstract: To evaluate the effects on serum 25(OH)D and bone mineralization of supplementation of breast-fed Hispanic and non-Hispanic Caucasian infants with vitamin D in infants in Houston, Texas. We measured cord serum 25(OH)D levels, bone mineral content (BMC), bone mineral density (BMD) and their changes over 3 months of life with 400 IU/day of vitamin D3 supplementation. Cord serum 25(OH)D was significantly lower in Hispanic than non-Hispanic Caucasian infants (16.4 +/- 6.5 ng/mL, n = 27, vs 22.3 +/- 9.4 n = 22, p = 0.013). Among 38 infants who completed a 3 month vitamin D supplementation intervention, provision of 400 IU/day of vitamin D increased final 25(OH)D to a higher level in non-Hispanic Caucasian compared to Hispanic infants. There was no significant relationship between cord serum 25(OH)D and BMC or BMD in the first week of life (n = 49) or after 3 months of vitamin D supplementation. Low cord 25(OH)D levels are seen in Hispanic infants, but their functional significance is uncertain related to bone health in a southern US setting. Daily vitamin D intake of 400 IU during the first months of life appears adequate to increase serum 25(OH)D and support BMC increases despite low initial 25(OH)D levels in some infants.

   

 
Project Team
Upchurch, Dan
Nakata, Paul
Grusak, Michael - Mike
 
Publications
   Publications
 
Related National Programs
  Human Nutrition (107)
 
Related Projects
   MINERAL ABSORPTION AND METABOLISM IN CHILDREN
   MODIFYING PLANT TRANSPORT PROCESSES FOR ENHANCED NUTRITIONAL QUALITY OF PLANT FOODS
   COMMON BEAN COORDINATED AGRICULTURAL PROJECT
 
 
Last Modified: 05/19/2013
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