Effect of weekly vitamin D supplements on mortality, morbidity, and growth of low birthweight term infants in India up to age 6 months: randomised controlled trial.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To investigate whether vitamin D supplementation can decrease the mortality and morbidity of low birthweight infants in low income countries.

DESIGN:

Randomised controlled trial.

SETTING:

Large government hospital in New Delhi, India.

PARTICIPANTS:

2079 low birthweight infants born at term (>37 weeks' gestation).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

Primary outcome was admission to hospital or death during the first six months of life. Main secondary outcome was growth.

INTERVENTIONS:

Weekly vitamin D supplements for six months at a dose of one recommended nutrient intake per day (35 µg/week). Infants were visited weekly at home for observed supplementation and were brought to the clinic monthly for clinical examination and anthropometric measurements.

RESULTS:

Between group differences were not significant for death or hospital admissions (92 among 1039 infants in the vitamin D group v 99 among 1040 infants in the placebo group; adjusted rate ratio 0.93, 95% confidence interval 0.68 to 1.29; P = 0.68), or referral to the outpatient clinic for moderate morbidity. Vitamin D supplementation resulted in better vitamin D status as assessed by plasma calcidiol levels at six months. In adjusted analyses, vitamin D treatment significantly increased standard deviation (z) scores at six months for weight, length, and arm circumference and decreased the proportion of children with stunted growth (length for age z score ≤ 2) or with arm circumference z scores of 2 or less.

CONCLUSION:

A weekly dose of vitamin D resulted in better vitamin D status and benefited the classic vitamin D function of bone growth but did not decrease the incidence of severe morbidity or death among young low birthweight infants. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00415402.

• Authors: Geeta Trilok Kumar, Harshpal Singh Sachdev, Harish Chellani, Andrea M Rehman, Vini Singh, Harsh Arora, Suzanne Filteau
• Journal: BMJ (Clinical research ed.) (BMJ) Vol. 342 Pg. d2975 (May 31 2011) ISSN: 1756-1833 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 21628364 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Vitamin D

Topics

• Dietary Supplements
• Humans
• India (epidemiology)
• Infant
• Infant Mortality
• Infant, Low Birth Weight (growth & development)
• Infant, Newborn
• Vitamin D (administration & dosage)