Association Between Maternal Vitamin D Status And Infantile Nutritional Rickets In A Hospital Setting: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the association between vitamin D status in breast-feeding mothers and the presence of rickets in their infants under one year of age.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 100 mother-infant pairs divided into two groups: 50 pairs with rachitic infants and 50 with healthy infants. Serum Vitamin D, calcium (Ca), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and phosphate (P) levels were measured in both groups. Statistical analyses, including t-tests and regression analyses, were used to examine relationships between maternal vitamin D levels and infant rickets.

Results: Mothers of rachitic infants had significantly lower serum vitamin D levels (mean = 18.5 ± 4.2 ng/mL) compared to mothers of healthy infants (mean = 32.7 ± 5.5 ng/mL, p < 0.01). Infants with rickets displayed elevated ALP and lower calcium levels compared to healthy infants. Regression analysis indicated a strong inverse correlation between maternal vitamin D levels/status and the incidence of infantile rickets (p < 0.01).

Conclusion: Maternal vitamin D deficiency (VDD) is significantly associated with infantile rickets, suggesting the importance of maternal supplementation of Vitamin D to prevent rickets in their breastfed infants.