Vitamin-D Deficiency And Its Association With Breast Feeding Among Children At 1 Year Of Age In An Urban Community In South India

Context: High prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency is reported among healthy infants, children and adolescents. Maternal Vitamin-D deficiency, poor vitamin-D content of breast milk even in Vitamin-D replete mothers, exclusive breastfeeding without Vitamin-D supplementation and inadequate sunlight exposure are important risk factors for Vitamin D deficiency in infants. Aim: To determine the prevalence of hypovitaminosis-D and its relation with breast feeding and childhood illness among healthy infants at 1 year of age. Settings and Design: A prospective cohort study was conducted among the infants in an urban community in south India. Methods and Material: A total of 495 children were followed up at 1 year of age. Clinical history, anthropometric measurements, and serum blood samples for vitamin-D were obtained. The effects of breastfeeding duration and infections on Vitamin-D status were assessed by univariate and multivariate analysis. Results: The prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency was 22% in these infants. Univariate analysis showed risk of hypovitaminosis-D in children breast fed for more than 6 months (p 0.02); however, multivariate analysis did not prove an association. Other risk factors analysed were not significantly associated with Hypovitaminosis D. Conclusion: The prevalence of hypovitaminosis-D in this study was low compared to previous studies from India. This study emphasizes the issue of hypovitaminosis-D in otherwise normal children. Routine Vitamin-D supplementation for antenatal women and infants may be needed to overcome this public health problem.