Persistent Deficiency for 40% of Toddlers Who Were Vitamin D Deficient as Neonates, Which Cannot Be Assessed by Examining Symptoms of Rickets

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.