• Pharmacology
  • Allergy, Immunology, and ENT
  • Cardiology
  • Emergency Medicine
  • Endocrinology
  • Adolescent Medicine
  • Gastroenterology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Neurology
  • OB/GYN
  • Practice Improvement
  • Gynecology
  • Respiratory
  • Dermatology
  • Mental, Behavioral and Development Health
  • Oncology
  • Rheumatology
  • Sexual Health
  • Pain

Preterm infants may need higher daily intake of vitamin D

Article

Preliminary data from a randomized, double-blind trial reveal that giving preterm babies daily supplementation of 800 international units (IU) of vitamin D reduces vitamin insufficiency that may lead to softening and weakening of their bones.

 

Preliminary data from a randomized, double-blind trial reveal that giving preterm babies daily supplementation of 800 international units (IU) of vitamin D reduces vitamin insufficiency that may lead to softening and weakening of their bones.

At 40 weeks, a group of preterm infants receiving 800 IU of vitamin D3 showed lower insufficiency than a group receiving 400 IU (38% vs 67%, respectively) and the lower rate held at 3 months corrected age (12% vs 35%, respectively).

Despite improvement in serum vitamin D levels in the 800 IU group, dual energy x-ray absorptiometry at 3 months did not reveal better bone mineralization.

Natarajan CK, Sankar MJ, Agarwal R, et al. Daily vitamin D supplementation with 800 IU vs. 400 IU in preterm infants: a randomized trial. Paper presented at: Pediatric Academic Societies Annual Meeting; May 2013; Washington, DC.

Related Videos
Reducing HIV reservoirs in neonates with very early antiretroviral therapy | Deborah Persaud, MD
Deborah Persaud, MD
Breaking down toddler formulas and the confusion associated with naming, labeling | Image Credit: © University of Kentucky - © University of Kentucky - stock.adobe.com.
infant formula
Related Content
© 2024 MJH Life Sciences

All rights reserved.