Evaluation Of The Vitamin D Active Forms In Low Birth Weight Neonates

Background. During the first days of life the main source of vitamin D are stores accumulated by fetus in utero. Human milk contains a very low amounts of vitamin D and breast feed newborns are in particular menaced by vitamin D deficit and its consequences.Objectives. The aim of the study was to assess the serum levels of calcidiol and calcitriol in Low Birth Weight newborns )1500-2500 g). Full term, eutrophic neonates made a control group.Material and methods. The study was carried out on 31 LBW neonates. The control group consisted of 31 full-term neonates. In cord blood calcitriol and calcidiol levels were measured. Moreover serum levels of calcidiol, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and alkaline activity were estimated in the neonates at 1st, 7th,14th and 28th day of life. The study protocol was approved by the ethical committee.Results. Mean serum blood calcidiol levels were higher in LBW infants only at 7th day of life. There was no connection between mother's age, maternal parity and maternal domicile) village/city) and neonatal serum vitamin D levels. There was no significant correlation between neonatal vitamin D stores and season of birth )summer-autumn, winter-spring). Calcidiol cord serum levels in newborns of supplemented mothers were higher than in newborns of non-supplemented mothers.Conclusions. The uniform prophylactic doses of vitamin D in the neonatal period can be insufficient in some cases, for that reason individual requirement of the newborn must be determined. Supplementation must be based on the anamnesis, physical examination and sometimes laboratory studies.