Towards evidence based medicine for paediatricians. Question 2. What is the ideal dose of vitamin D supplementation for term neonates

During a well-baby check, a mother asked for the consultant's recommendation on the ideal dose and type of vitamin D formulation for her infant. She intends to breastfeed her baby exclusively. Her baby was born at 39 weeks gestation by spontaneous vaginal delivery. In a normal term neonate [patient], what is the optimal dose of vitamin D supplementation [intervention] to prevent vitamin D deficiency and rickets [outcome]? ### Primary sources MEDLINE was searched via PubMed from 1990 to July 2011. The advanced search mode was used with the terms ‘vitamin D’ and ‘neonates’ and ‘supplementation’. ### Secondary sources A search of the Cochrane Library was conducted using the search terms ‘vitamin D’ and ‘infants’. Vitamin D is essential for good bone health and insufficient levels are linked to rickets in children.1 5 A resurgence of vitamin D insufficiency and nutritional rickets has been reported across many countries.1 Studies in infants and children are also exploring the association between vitamin D insufficiency and type 1 diabetes mellitus as well as inflammatory diseases.1 2 There …