Single high-dose vitamin D at birth corrects vitamin D deficiency in infants in Mexico

Abstract

This study examined the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in mothers and infants in Tijuana, Mexico and determined the effect of a single oral dose of 50 000 IU vitamin D₃ at birth on 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) levels during infancy. Healthy infants were randomized to receive vitamin D₃ or placebo at birth. At birth 23% of infants were vitamin D deficient and 77% had vitamin D insufficiency (mean 25[OH]D level 18.9 ng/ml); 10% of mothers were vitamin D deficient and 61% were insufficient. Infants receiving vitamin D₃ had higher 25(OH)D levels at two months (N = 29; 33.9 versus 24.2 ng/ml) and six months (N = 21; 36.5 versus 27.4 ng/ml). Exclusively breastfed infants had lower 25(OH)D levels at two months (14.9 versus 33.4 ng/ml). Vitamin D deficiency is common in infants and mothers in Tijuana, Mexico. A single dose of vitamin D₃ at birth was safe and significantly increased 25(OH)D levels during infancy.

• Host genetics
• infant nutrition
• vitamin D
• vitamin D binding protein
• vitamin D deficiency
• vitamin D receptor

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Rachel Bruckman, Jasmin Barcenas, Rolando Viani and Rujing Shi for their assistance with Spanish translation, venipuncture and the transportation of blood samples. The authors would also like to thank Min Qin for validating the statistical analyses and reviewing the manuscript.

Declaration of interest

The authors have no conflicts of interest to report.

This research was supported in part by National Institutes of Health grants R21AI084573, R01NS077874 and an Early Career Award from Thrasher Research Foundation.