Study to assess the Vitamin D deficiency in term neonates and efficacy of oral vitamin D supplement

Abstract

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is a significant health problem throughout India irrespective of gender, age, race and geography. It plays important role in neonatal period in fetal skeletal growth, prevention of rickets, sepsis, respiratory tract infections, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and other endocrine disorders. The aim of the study was Vitamin D deficiency in term newborn and efficacy of oral vitamin D supplement.Materials and Methods: This was a prospective interventional study conducted in the Department of Pediatrics, Kalawati Saran Children Hospital, New Delhi, India for1 year.Total 120 normal term normal babies were randomly selected. Cord blood was collected in plane tube, serum separated and tested for serum vitamin D, calcium, phosphorus and ALP by immune fluorescence assay technique. The babies with the vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency were supplemented with single high dose of vitamin D 50,000 IU given orally. These investigations were repeated after 60 days.Results: out of 120, 55% were male babies and 45% were female babies. Over all 120 babies cord blood was send for serum vitamin D, calcium, phosphorous and ALP levels at the time of birth in that only 14(11.67%) babies had normal serum vitamin D levels,70(58.33%)/36(30%)babies had deficiency/insufficiency respectively. Babies with vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency at the time of birth had given single high dose i.e. 50,000IU of vitamin D orally and follow up has been done after 60 days to check serum vitamin D, calcium, phosphorous and ALP levels. All babies vitamin D levels were normalized and none of the babies had hypervitaminosis (>100mg/dl) with serum mean value of vitamin D was 47.39ng/ml. 70(58.33%) of the neonate have vitamin D deficiency in our population. 36(30%) of the neonate have vitamin D insufficiency in ourpopulation. Only 11.67% of term neonates have normal Vitamin D status in our population. Single Oral dose of 50,000 IU Vitamin D normalizes, Vitamin D status in them.Conclusion: A single high dose of Oral vitamin D 50,000 IU is sufficient to normalise serum vitamin D levels with none developing hypervitaminosis.