Abstract
We studied a group of 74 toddlers, mean age 16 months, diagnosed with severe vitamin
D deficiency at birth (cord blood <20 nmol/L 25OH vitamin D for neonates). Of 74 initially
deficient toddlers, 30 did not reach sufficiency at 50 nmol/L level of serum vitamin
D, suggesting persistent vitamin D deficiency over on average 16 months. Boys remained
deficient more often than girls. Even in severely deficient toddlers (25OH vitamin
D <30 nmol/L), no clinical evidence of symptoms of rickets, growth and development
retardation, or abnormal serum calcium levels was observed.
Keywords
perinatal - vitamin D deficiency - rickets - toddlers