Vitamin D status in Irish infants

Main Article Content

Aoife Carroll Chike Onwuneme Malachi McKenna McKenna Eleanor J Molloy Nuala P Murphy

Abstract

Vitamin D is essential for good bone health particularly during infancy, a time of rapid growth. Given Irelands northerly latitude, Irish children are at risk of suboptimal vitamin D levels.The aim of our study was to describe the vitamin D status of a group of Irish infants and identify factors predictive of vitamin D status. A cross sectional study was undertaken over a 12 month period in a single paediatric tertiary referral centre in Dublin. Fifty four healthy term infants (<1 year of age) attending a single hospital for minor medical or surgical procedures were recruited. All patients had measurement of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD), parathyroid hormone (PTH) and a bone profile. A questionnaire detailing vitamin D intake from diet, vitamin D supplementation and sun exposure was completed on behalf of each participant. The mean (SD) for serum 25OHD was 80.8 (34.4) nmol/L and almost 80% of infants had 25OHD levels >50 nmol/L. Lower serum 25OHD levels were seen in the following: breastfed infants, infants with formula consumption of <500ml per day, darker skin and no vitamin D supplementation. In our study, most infants have 25OHD levels in the range for optimal skeletal development, above 50 nmol/L, but important risk factors for suboptimal serum 25OHD levels have been identified and will aid in identifying those infants most at risk.

Article Details

How to Cite
CARROLL, Aoife et al. Vitamin D status in Irish infants. Medical Research Archives, [S.l.], v. 5, n. 6, june 2017. ISSN 2375-1924. Available at: <https://esmed.org/MRA/mra/article/view/1321>. Date accessed: 28 mar. 2024.
Keywords
Ireland, Vitamin D, Infant, 25-OH vitamin D
Section
Research Articles

References

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