Very low birth weight infant vitamin D supplementation: double-blind, randomized clinical efficacy trial (828.13)

Objective: To evaluate whether infants receiving a supplemental 400 IU/day above standard preterm infant vitamin D (vitD) supplementation differed in mineral and bone health from infants receiving placebo. Methods: Very low birth weight (VLBW) infants with plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] < 20 ng/ml (vitD deficiency) were enrolled within 3 days of birth and randomized to active (400 IU/day supplemental vitD) or placebo group until term age equivalent (TAE). At TAE, plasma 25(OH)D, parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcium, phosphorus, urinary calcium and phosphorus excretion, and femur and spine bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD) were measured. Statistical analysis was by Chi-square, Fisher exact, and Wilcoxon Rank Sum. Results: Thirty-eight (19 each group) vitD-deficient infants were enrolled and followed at TAE. Active and control groups did not significantly differ in gender, race, birth gestational age, days from birth to TAE visit, or 25(OH)D at entry (13.6 and 11.8 ng/ml). From b...