Volume : 2, Issue : 3, March - 2013

Vitamin D Levels in Exclusively Breastfed Babies and their Mothers.

Anupama Mauskar, Shujaath Asif. M.

Abstract :

Background: Increasing prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in pregnant and lactating women (84.3%) is responsible for low vitamin D levels in exclusively eastfed newborns and infants. Objectives: To measure the serum vitamin D, calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase level in exclusively eastfed infants and their mothers. To correlate maternal serum vitamin D and calcium levels with that of infants. Method: This was a cohort study conducted in Pediatric outpatient department and well baby clinic of a tertiary teaching hospital from Jan 2007 – Dec 2008. The serum vitamin D, calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphates levels were estimated in 30 dyads of mother and baby by standard techniques. Result: Twenty six percent of mothers and 60% of infants had low serum 25(OH) D levels. Conclusion: study found very high prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in both mother & infant.