High-dose vitamin d intervention in infants--effects on vitamin d status, calcium homeostasis, and bone strength.

Study answer

What this study found

Daily vitamin D3 increased serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D in a clear dose-response manner and was safe over the 3-month infant period. At age 3 months, median S-25-OHD was 88 nmol/L with 10 g, 124 nmol/L with 30 g, and 153 nmol/L with 40 g; the 40 g dose maintained S-25-OHD above 80 nmol/L in all infants. All infants in the 30 g and 40 g groups achieved the Endocrine Society target of at least 75 nmol/L, and 93% of compliant infants in the 10 g group did so. No hypercalcemia was observed; hypercalciuria occurred in 39% overall but did not differ between groups (P = 0.623). Bone turnover markers…

Study & population

Randomized, double-blind trial in healthy full-term newborns at Helsinki Maternity Hospital in Helsinki, Finland.

Intervention

Healthy term newborns received daily vitamin D3 drops at 10 g (400 IU), 30 g (1200 IU), or 40 g (1600 IU) from age 2 weeks to 3 months.

Key limitation

The trial was short and relatively small, and the skeletal findings were only trends at 3 months rather than definitive clinical outcomes.

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Original abstract