Genetic Variation of the Vitamin D Binding Protein Affects Vitamin D Status and Response to Supplementation in Infants.

Context: Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the vitamin D binding protein encoding the GC (group component) gene affect 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) concentrations, but their influence on vitamin D status and response to vitamin D supplementation in infants is unknown.

Objective: To study GC genotype-related differences in 25OHD concentrations and the response to supplementation during a vitamin D intervention study in infants.

Design: In this randomized controlled trial, healthy term infants received vitamin D3 (10 or 30 μg/d) from 2 weeks to 24 months of age.

High-Dose Vitamin D Supplementation Does Not Prevent Allergic Sensitization of Infants.

Objective: To investigate the effect of vitamin D supplementation dose on allergic sensitization and allergic diseases in infants, and to evaluate whether vitamin D status in pregnancy and at birth are associated with infant allergy outcomes.

Study Design: Altogether, 975 infants participated in a randomized, controlled trial of daily vitamin D supplementation of 10 μg (400 IU) or 30 μg (1200 IU) from the age of 2 weeks. At 12 months of age, food and aeroallergen IgE antibodies were measured, and the occurrence of allergic diseases and wheezing were evaluated.

High Pregnancy, Cord Blood, and Infant Vitamin D Concentrations May Predict Slower Infant Growth.

Context: The relationship of maternal and infant 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration [25(OH)D] with infant growth is unclear.

Objective: Our objective was to explore whether 25(OH)D in pregnancy, umbilical cord blood (UCB), or in infancy was associated with infant growth.

Design: This study involved 798 healthy infants and their mothers in Finland.

Effect of Higher vs Standard Dosage of Vitamin D3 Supplementation on Bone Strength and Infection in Healthy Infants: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Although guidelines for vitamin D supplementation in infants have been widely implemented, they are mostly based on studies focusing on prevention of rickets. The optimal dose for bone strength and infection prevention in healthy infants remains unclear.

Objective: To determine whether daily supplementation with 1200 IU of vitamin D3 increases bone strength or decreases incidence of infections in the first 2 years of life compared with a dosage of 400 IU/d.

Maternal vitamin D status, gestational diabetes and infant birth size.

Background: Maternal vitamin D status has been associated with both gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and fetal growth restriction, however, the evidence is inconsistent. In Finland, maternal vitamin D status has improved considerably due to national health policies. Our objective was to compare maternal 25-hydroxy vitamin D concentrations [25(OH)D] between mothers with and without GDM, and to investigate if an association existed between maternal vitamin D concentration and infant birth size.

Food and Nutrient Intake and Nutrient Sources in 1-Year-Old Infants in Finland: A Cross-Sectional Analysis.

The infant diet has short- and long-term health consequences. Updated data regarding the dietary intake of Finnish infants are lacking. The objectives of this study were to describe infant food and nutrient intake and to identify food sources of the nutrients.

Sex and Iron Modify Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 Concentration in 1-Year-Old Children.

Context: Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) plays an important role in phosphate homeostasis, but its regulation is inadequately characterized.

Objective: To examine FGF23 regulators, especially sex and iron status, in early childhood.

Design: A cross-sectional study involving 1-year-old children.

No Severe Hypercalcemia with Daily Vitamin D3 Supplementation of up to 30 µg during the First Year of Life.

Background: Vitamin D supplementation is widely recommended for infants, but the optimal dose remains unclear. High intake may result in hypercalcemia.

Methods: We evaluated the incidence of hypercalcemia during the first year of life in a cohort of 987 healthy children who received 10 or 30 μg of vitamin D3 supplementation daily.

Towards evidence-based vitamin D supplementation in infants: vitamin D intervention in infants (VIDI) - study design and methods of a randomised controlled double-blinded intervention study.

Background: Vitamin D is important for bone mass accrual during growth. Additionally, it is considered a requirement for a multitude of processes associated with, for example, the development of immunity. Many countries apply vitamin D supplementation strategies in infants, but the guidelines are not based on scientific evidence and aim at prevention of rickets.

Season, dietary factors, and physical activity modify 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration during pregnancy.

Purpose: The objectives of this cross-sectional study were to define maternal and umbilical cord blood (UCB) 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) to characterize maternal factors modifying 25(OH)D during pregnancy and predict UCB 25(OH)D in two subgroups with Declined [Δ25(OH)D <0 nmol/l] and Increased [Δ25(OH)D >0 nmol/l] 25(OH)D concentration.

Methods: A complete dataset was available from 584 women. 25(OH)D was determined at gestational weeks 6-13 and in UCB.

25-hydroxyvitamin D correlates with inflammatory markers in cord blood of healthy newborns.

Background: Vitamin D is a potent immunomodulator and may play a role in the development of the fetal innate immune functions. The aim of our study was to evaluate inflammatory markers in cord blood of healthy newborns in relation to vitamin D status at birth.

Methods: We studied the concentrations of inflammatory markers, matrix metalloproteinase 8 (MMP-8) and high sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP), and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) in cord blood of 939 healthy term infants born to mothers of Caucasian origin.

Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 Concentrations Reflect Sex Differences in Mineral Metabolism and Growth in Early Infancy.

Background: The role of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) in the regulation of mineral homeostasis in early life is inadequately understood. We aimed to explore the effects of vitamin D supplementation on serum FGF23 and to elucidate longitudinal changes in FGF23, in addition to studying its association with mineral metabolism in early infancy.

Methods: Altogether 113 healthy infants received vitamin D3 10, 30 or 40 µg/day from age 0.

High-dose vitamin d intervention in infants--effects on vitamin d status, calcium homeostasis, and bone strength.

Context: Guidelines in Finland recommend 10 μg of vitamin D3 daily for all infants. Recent observations suggest that this may be insufficient to maintain optimal serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (S-25-OHD).

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate effects of various vitamin D doses and determine a dose ensuring S-25-OHD of at least 80 nmol/liter in infants without signs of vitamin D excess.

Acute cardiovascular responses in preterm infants at 34-39 weeks of gestational age.

Background: Premature infants demonstrate immature physiological control mechanisms; however their acute cardiovascular control has not yet been widely studied.

Aim: The aim of this study was to analyze heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) control in preterm infants.

Subjects: Twenty preterm infants with a mean gestational age of 31 ± 2.

Significant decrease in maternal serum concentrations of angiopoietin-1 and -2 after delivery.

Objective: To characterize the physiological distribution of angiopoietins (Ang)-1 and Ang-2 and soluble endothelial cell-specific tyrosine kinase receptor-2 (Tie-2) at term and following delivery.

Design: A prospective, descriptive study.

Setting: Helsinki University Central Hospital.

Maternal vitamin D status affects bone growth in early childhood--a prospective cohort study.

Unlabelled: In this prospective study, 87 children were followed up from birth to 14 months with data on maternal vitamin D status during the pregnancy. Postnatal vitamin D supplementation improved vitamin D status but only partly eliminated the differences in bone variables induced by maternal vitamin D status during the fetal period.

Introduction: Intrauterine nutritional deficits may have permanent consequences despite improved nutritional status postnatally.

Heart rate and blood pressure control in infants exposed to maternal cigarette smoking.

Aim: Exposure to maternal cigarette smoking is a major risk factor for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Foetal and postnatal smoke-exposure may alter cardiovascular control in infants. We studied heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) responses in smoke-exposed infants.

Neonatal outcome of 58 infants exposed to maternal buprenorphine in utero.

Aim: To study the neonatal outcome of infants exposed to buprenorphine in utero.

Methods: We prospectively followed 54 buprenorphine-using pregnant women and their 58 infants. Urinary buprenorphine and norbuprenorphine concentrations in the mothers were measured prior to delivery, and in the infants during the first 3 days of life.

Altered cardiovascular control in preterm infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

Vestibulo-mediated cardiovascular control in hazardous situations is important. Our hypothesis is that the prerequisite for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is impaired vestibulo-mediated cardiovascular control. Prematurity is a risk factor for SIDS, and postnatal intermittent hypoxia may contribute to this risk.

Cord plasma adiponectin: a 20-fold rise between 24 weeks gestation and term.

Adiponectin is an adipocyte-derived hormone with profound insulin-sensitizing, antiinflammatory, and antiatherogenic effects. Apart from its obvious potential as a mediator of adult metabolic syndrome, adiponectin could have a significant role in regulating fetal growth.We measured plasma adiponectin concentrations by ELISA in cord vein of 197 infants.

Postnatal changes in concentrations of free and bound leptin.

Aim: To evaluate the effect of maternal diabetes on the concentrations of free and bound leptin at birth and during postnatal adaptation.

Methods: Total, bound, and free leptin concentrations and the percentage of free leptin were measured in cord plasma and plasma at 3 days of age of 13 term infants of mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and 13 term infants of healthy mothers. Gestational age was 40.

Fetal shoulder measurements by fast and ultrafast MRI techniques.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of fetal shoulder measurements of fetuses with suspected macrosomia. The actual fetal shoulder measurements made immediately after birth were compared with measurements obtained by fast and ultrafast MRI techniques antepartum. Eight singleton diabetic pregnant mothers underwent MRI examination with fast imaging in steady-state precession (TrueFISP) and spin-echo (SE) and gradient-echo (GE) echo-planar (EPI) sequences to show the fetal shoulder width.

Markers of type I and type III collagen turnover, insulin-like growth factors, and their binding proteins in cord plasma of small premature infants: relationships with fetal growth, gestational age, preeclampsia, and antenatal glucocorticoid treatment.

Disorders affecting fetal growth are commonly associated with premature birth. IGFs and their binding proteins (IGFBPs) are potent regulators of fetal growth. In vitro evidence suggests that they regulate collagen turnover.

Increased fetal leptin in type I diabetes mellitus pregnancies complicated by chronic hypoxia.

Aims/hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to examine whether fetal leptin concentration correlates with severity of chronic or subchronic fetal hypoxia as indicated by increased fetal concentrations of erythropoietin in fetuses of mothers with Type I (insulin dependent) diabetes mellitus.

Methods: We measured leptin and erythropoietin concentrations in cord plasma and amniotic fluid with radioimmunoassay in 25 pregnancies (gestational age 37.2 +/- 1.