Abstract

Objective: Pakistan has no policy on the vitamin D supplementation of 'low-risk' breastfed infants. This work as having the intent to look at 25-(OH) vit D status in infants and their nursing mothers, so that we could statistically examine maternal and infant factor's in relation to infant 25-(OH) vit D status. Study Design: This was cross-sectional descriptive study. Place and duration of study: Conducted in Paediatric department of Shifa falahee health center, a part of Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad. It lasted from July 2012 to July 2013. Patients and Methods: A total of 150 participants 75 infants aged 4-12 months and their nursing mothers were enrolled. Details of infants and mothers were recorded. Serum 25-(OH) vit D of infants and mothers along with serum calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase were estimated. Radiographs left wrist of infants were taken. Results: Vitamin D deficiency was found in 66.6% of infants and 36% of mothers; and insufficiency in an additional 12% of infants and 58.7% of mothers. 8% of infants and 36% of nursing mothers had 25-(OH) vit D levels below 3ng/ml and necessitated supplementation. 18.6 % of infants and 2.7% of nursing mothers had sufficient levels of 25-(OH) vit D. Conclusion: The study shows that low 25-(OH) vit D levels are very common amongst exclusively breastfed infants and nursing mothers in Islamabad; Pakistan. Studies with large sample need to be done in different parts of country to confirm these findings. Breastfed infants and their mothers should be supplemented with 25-(OH) vit D.

Key words: Vitamin D deficiency, Breast fed infants, 25-(OH) vit D levels