Zhao W, Li C, Shen WZ, Li KY, Cai YX, Li F, Fu H, Peng B, Chen J, Li TY, Chen L. Cord blood vitamin A and vitamin D levels in relation to physical growth in exclusively breastfed infants aged 0-6 months.
Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2024;
15:1394408. [PMID:
39129921 PMCID:
PMC11310037 DOI:
10.3389/fendo.2024.1394408]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 08/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Background
Vitamins A and D are essential for the health of pregnant women and infants. Nevertheless, the relationship between umbilical cord blood vitamins A and D levels and the physical growth of exclusively breastfed infants remains uncertain.
Objective
This cohort study aims to examine the relationship between cord blood vitamins A and D levels and the physical growth of exclusively breastfed infants aged 0-6 months.
Methods
140 singleton mother-infant pairs were recruited in total. Questionnaires were used to collect maternal and infant information, and liquid chromatography was utilized to quantify the levels of vitamins A and D in the umbilical cord blood. Anthropometric measurements were conducted at birth, at 3 and 6 months of age, and the weight-for-age z-score (WAZ), length-for-age z-score (LAZ), head circumference-for-age z-score (HAZ), and BMI-for-age z-score (BMIZ) were calculated. Univariate and multivariate linear regression models were used for the analysis.
Results
The average concentration of vitamins A and D in cord blood was 0.58 ± 0.20 μmol/L and 34.07 ± 13.35 nmol/L, both below the normal range for children. After adjusting for confounding factors, vitamin A levels in cord blood positively correlated with HAZ growth in infants aged 3-6 months (β= 0.75, P < 0.01) while vitamin D levels negatively correlated with LAZ growth (β= -0.01, P = 0.01) and positively correlated with BMIZ growth (β= 0.02, P < 0.01).
Conclusion
Higher Vitamin A levels at birth promote HAZ growth in infants aged 3-6 months while higher vitamin D levels at birth promote BMIZ growth in infants aged 3-6 months.
Clinical trial registration
https://register.clinicaltrials.gov, identifier NCT04017286.
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