Vitamin D prophylaxis in infancy.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of vitamin D supplementation in infancy for reducing deficiency, preventing rickets and infections, and determining optimal dosage and duration.
Results Summary
A daily dose of 400 IU of vitamin D was effective for improving bone health and preventing rickets, especially in at-risk infants. Higher doses showed no additional benefit and risked toxicity, while lower doses were insufficient. Universal supplementation until 12 months was strongly recommended.
Population
Infants, with specific focus on at-risk groups.
Effective Dosage
400 international units (IU) daily.
Duration
Until 12 months of age (universal recommendation), longer for at-risk groups.
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
vitamin D supplementation in infancy | decrease | vitamin D deficiency | infants | - | reducing | #1 |
vitamin D supplementation in infancy | decrease | rickets | infants | - | preventing | #2 |
vitamin D supplementation in infancy | decrease | infections | infants | - | preventing | #3 |
a daily dose of 400 international units of vitamin D | increase | bone health | infants | - | has shown to be effective for improving | #4 |
a daily dose of 400 international units of vitamin D | decrease | rickets | infants | - | preventing | #5 |
Vitamin D supplementation | no change | toxicity | - | - | is well tolerated, and not associated with | #6 |
Higher doses | no change | benefit | - | - | have not shown to add benefit | #7 |
Higher doses | increase | toxic blood levels | - | - | could potentially cause | #8 |
Higher doses | increase | hypercalcemia | - | - | could potentially cause | #9 |
lower daily doses | no change | adequate levels of vitamin D | - | - | Adequate levels of vitamin D might not be achieved with | #10 |
We looked at existing recommendations and supporting evidence on the effectiveness of vitamin D supplementation in infancy for reducing vitamin D deficiency and for preventing rickets and infections. We also looked at optimal dose of vitamin D and the age until which vitamin D supplementation is beneficial.We conducted a literature search up to the 17th of July 2019 by using key terms and manual search in selected sources. We summarized the recommendations and the strength of the recommendation when and as reported by the authors. We summarized the main findings of systematic reviews with the certainty of the evidence as reported.A daily dose of 400 international units of vitamin D in infants has shown to be effective for improving bone health and preventing rickets. Evidence is more robust in groups of infants and children at risk. Vitamin D supplementation is well tolerated, and not associated with toxicity. Higher doses have not shown to add benefit while it could potentially cause toxic blood levels and hypercalcemia. Adequate levels of vitamin D might not be achieved with lower daily doses. Universal vitamin D supplementation starting shortly after birth, regardless of the mode of feeding and until 12 months of age, is strongly recommended. Beyond 12 months of age vitamin D supplementation is recommended only in groups of children at risk.