Prevalence and risk factors for vitamin D deficiency among Tanzanian HIV-exposed uninfected infants
Rwebembera, A.; Sudfeld, C.R.; Manji, K.P.; Duggan, C.; Aboud, S.; Fawzi, W.W.
Journal of Tropical Pediatrics 59(5): 426-429
2013
ISSN/ISBN: 1465-3664 PMID: 23619601 DOI: 10.1093/tropej/fmt028Document Number: 578678
Vitamin D is essential for bone development and may also play an integral role in control of intracellular pathogens. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were assessed at 6 months of age for 191 HIV-exposed uninfected infants enrolled in a trial of multivitamins (not including vitamin D) in Tanzania. A total of 66 infants (34.6%) were classified as vitamin D deficient (<20 ng/ml), 93 (48.7%) as vitamin D insufficient (20-30 ng/ml) and 32 (16.8%) as vitamin D sufficient (≥30 ng/ml). Independent risk factors for vitamin D deficiency were sampling during the rainy season and infant wasting. Infant breastfeeding, maternal CD4 T-cell count, maternal wasting status and maternal receipt of antiretroviral therapy were not associated with vitamin D deficiency. Low levels of vitamin D were highly prevalent among HIV-exposed uninfected infants in Tanzania, and longitudinal studies and clinical trials of supplementation are needed to assess the impact on child health.