Vitamin D status of breastfed Pakistani infants

This study was conducted to evaluate the vitamin D status of healthy breastfed Pakistani infants and their nursing mothers. Sixty-two breastfed healthy infants and their nursing mothers belonging to the upper and lower socioeconomic classes were examined. Serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D [25(OH)D], serum calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase were measured. The mean serum 25(OH)D in infants was 34.59 ± 26.56 nmol/l. Fifty-five percent of infants and 45% of mothers had very low serum 25(OH)D levels (<25 nmol/). Significantly higher levels were found in infants of lower socioeconomic class (p < 0.001) and in those living in mud houses (p = 0.002) and infants >6 months (p < 0.001). A high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was found in breastfed infants and nursing mothers, predominantly among those belonging if> the upper socioeconomic class. Infants of the lower socioeconomic class had comparatively higher serum 25(OH)D levels, but even these levels were below the normal range for infants (90± 27.5 nmol/l.