Vitamin D deficiency and its associated comorbidities in very low birth weight neonates

Objectives: To assess the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (VDD) among very low birth weight (VLBW) neonates and its associated co-morbidities.

Method: A prospective observational study was carried out at a tertiary care neonatal centre of Odisha, India, from February to November 2018. All VLBW infants admitted within the first 24 hours after birth were included in the study after parental consent. Infants with multiple congenital malformations were excluded. Initial blood samples were collected within the first 24 hours of life and vitamin D estimation was done by chemiluminescence immunoassay. Serum calcium and alkaline phosphatise (ALP) were measured by cresolphthalein complexone and para-nitro phenyl phosphate method respectively. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 16 was used for statistical analysis.

Results: Our study included 40 VLBW neonates with a mean birth weight of 1133.95±208.487g and a mean gestational age of 30.60±2.274 weeks. VDD prevalence was 67.5% and mean vitamin D level was 16.906±12.708ng/dl. However, the indirect laboratory parameters of VDD like mean serum calcium, phosphorous and ALP levels were within the normal range. There was higher incidence of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and sepsis in babies with VDD.

Conclusions: In this study VDD was found in 67.5% of VLBW babies. Incidences of RDS and neonatal sepsis were greater in babies with VDD.

Sri Lanka Journal of Child Health, 2021; 50(3): 448-452