Prevention of Vitamin D Deficiency
- Conditions
- Vitamin D Deficiency
- Interventions
- Dietary Supplement: Vitamin D drops, 200 or 400 or 600 IU/day or 800 IU/day
- Registration Number
- NCT00494104
- Lead Sponsor
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
- Brief Summary
Breastfed infants living in a northern location (41 degrees N) are at high risk of vitamin D deficiency during winter. This trial is designed to determine how much supplemental vitamin D breastfed infants need to receive in order to remain free of vitamin D deficiency
- Detailed Description
It is increasingly being recognized that infants and children living at northern latitudes are at risk of vitamin D deficiency, especially if their skin is darkly pigmented. The study by the PI (Pediatrics 2006;118:603) was the first to demonstrate that infants with light skin pigmentation living at 41 degrees north are at risk of vitamin D deficiency. During winter (December - April) a full 78% of infants were vitamin D deficient if they did not receive vitamin D from an external source. Very few breastfed babies are currently receiving supplemental vitamin D. The recommended dose is 200 IU/day. However, there are questions about the adequacy of this dose of vitamin D for the prevention of vitamin D deficiency. The present trial is designed to determine whether a dose of 200 IU/day is effective or whether doses of 400 IU/day, 600 IU/day or 800 IU/day are required to prevent vitamin D deficiency reliably.
The trial is a randomized, prospective double-blind trial in which breastfed infants will receive 200 IU/day or 400 IU/day or 600 IU/day or 800 IU/day from 1 to 9 months of age. There will not be a placebo control group. Infants will be followed through 12 months of age. Normal term infants (birth weight \>2500 g) who are born in June through November will be enrolled and randomized at 1 month of age. They will visit the study center at monthly intervals and will have capillary blood drawn at select ages. At 2 months and again in March or April whole body mineral content will be determined by DEXA. Infants will not be permitted to receive formula until 9 months of age. They may receive complementary foods beginning at 4 months of age. Vitamin D supplements will be weighed before dispensing and again when the empty and half-empty containers are returned. Study endpoints will be blood parameters and bone mineral content determined at the end of winter, i.e., between March and May 15. Blood parameters include 25-OHD, parathyroid hormone, calcium, alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, N-telopeptide, ferritin and transferrin receptor. 180 infants will be enrolled at 1 month of age in the expectation that 48 per group will complete the trial to at least 9 months of age.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- COMPLETED
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 398
- Term infant
- No major congenital malformations
- Less than one month old
- Breastfed, no other foods
- Formula feeding
- Premature birth
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- PARALLEL
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description 400 IU/day Vitamin D Vitamin D drops, 200 or 400 or 600 IU/day or 800 IU/day 400 IU/day Vitamin D 600 IU/day Vitamin D Vitamin D drops, 200 or 400 or 600 IU/day or 800 IU/day 600 IU/day Vitamin D 800 IU/day Vitamin D Vitamin D drops, 200 or 400 or 600 IU/day or 800 IU/day 800 IU/day Vitamin D 200 IU/day Vitamin D Vitamin D drops, 200 or 400 or 600 IU/day or 800 IU/day 200 IU/day Vitamin D
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Plasma concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, parathyroid hormone, alkaline phosphatase end of winter
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method whole body mineral content by DEXA end of winter
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
MTF, 2501 Crosspark Rd
🇺🇸Coralville, Iowa, United States