Neonatal vitamin D status at birth at latitude 32°72′:: evidence of deficiency

Objective: With vitamin D deficiency as a serious public health problem, vitamin D status at birth was measured in neonates at latitude 32 degrees 72 ' ( southeastern United States). Study Design: In umbilical cord blood, vitamin D status, demonstrated by circulating 25- hydroxyvitamin D, was measured and related to race and season of birth. Result: The mean +/- standard deviation of 25- hydroxyvitamin D in 100 cord blood samples was 13.5 +/- 8.3 ng/ ml for the cohort. African- American infants, with a mean +/- standard deviation of 10.5 +/- 6.0 ng/ ml, demonstrated significantly lower vitamin D status than Caucasian infants, with a mean +/- standard deviation of 19.5 +/- 9.6 ng/ ml ( P < 0.0001). By season, the mean 25- hydroxyvitamin D level at birth in November March compared to April - October was 11.3 ng/ ml lower in Caucasian infants ( from 29.0 to 17.7 ng/ ml) and 3 ng/ ml lower in African- American infants ( from 13.1 to 10.1 ng/ ml). Conclusion: The prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency is high in this cohort. African- American infants demonstrate significantly lower vitamin D status at birth than Caucasian infants. Seasonality, while significant in both groups, had a greater impact on the vitamin D status of Caucasian newborns.