Vitamin D Deficiency in Breastfed Infants

Lee, Hae Sang; Lim, Beom Taek; Lee, Hyo Sung; Hwang, Jin Soon

Abstract

PURPOSE
Vitamin D deficiency is a public health problem in many countries. There has been a reappearance of rickets from vitamin D deficiency in recent decades as a result of multiple factors. One of the factors is breast feeding. The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical presentation of rickets in breastfed infants.
METHODS
Retrospective review of patients presenting to Ajou University hospital between 2003 and 2008 with rickets caused by vitamin D deficiency during breast feeding.
RESULTS
Seventeen patients (10 boys and 7 girls) were diagnosed with vitamin D deficiency. There were six in the asymptomatic and eleven in the symptomatic patients. The mean age of the patients was 8.5+/-0.5 months. The mean 25-hydroxycholecalciferol was 3.55+/-1.88 ng/mL. 25-hydroxycholecalciferol levels were below 5 ng/mL in 13 patients. The mean serum alkaline phosphatase was 765.53+/-563.9 IU/L, the mean intact parathyroid hormone was 231.6+/-225.7 pg/mL. All except 3 patients were showed cupping and fraying of metaphysis.
CONCLUSION
Breast feeding is associated with increased risk of rickets. We recommend vitamin D supplementation of all breastfed infants to prevent rickets. Supplementation should begin within the first 2 months of life. Also, we hope to initiate further research and debate about guideline of vitamin D supplementation