Original ArticleHigh-Dose Vitamin D Supplementation Does Not Prevent Allergic Sensitization of Infants
Section snippets
Methods
A total of 987 healthy infants, born in Kätilöopisto Helsinki Maternity Hospital, Finland, were randomized to receive daily vitamin D3 supplementation of 10 μg (400 IU) or 30 μg (1200 IU) from 2 weeks to 24 months of age.12 Mothers were of northern European ethnicity without regular medication and with a singleton pregnancy. Infants included in the study were born at term (370/7 to 420/7 weeks of gestation) with a birth weight appropriate for gestational age (birth weight SDS between −2.0
Characteristics
A total of 975 infants fulfilled the trial inclusion criteria; 489 were randomized to 10 μg and 486 to 30 μg daily vitamin D supplementation. Study enrollment, allocation, and follow-up is presented (Figure; available at www.jpeds.com).
At 12 months, a total of 865 infants (91.5%) attended the follow-up visit. Parental history of allergic diseases or other baseline characteristics did not differ between intervention groups (Table I). Breastfeeding was continued for >6 months for 78.9% of the
Discussion
In this randomized, controlled trial comparing daily vitamin D supplementation of 10 μg and 30 μg in infancy, we observed no differences in allergic sensitization between the groups at 12 months of age. Physician-diagnosed allergic diseases and occurrence of wheezing were similar in both intervention groups. Exception was for cow's milk allergy, which was reported more often in infants administered 30 μg vitamin D daily compared with the 10 μg dose. In addition, we observed that infants with
Conclusions
We observed that, in vitamin D-sufficient infants, higher vitamin D supplementation did not decrease allergic sensitization, allergic diseases, or wheezing during the first year of life. However, the risk for allergic sensitization was higher in infants with high cord blood 25(OH)D concentration, suggesting that high vitamin D levels at birth may modify the immune response related to allergy development. However, the connection of vitamin D and allergy is complex and requires further studies.
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2022, World Allergy Organization JournalCitation Excerpt :Continuously insufficient 25(OH)D3 levels during the neonatal period and infancy likely causes FA in infants and young children.33 However, Yepes-Nunez et al reviewed studies on vitamin D supplementation in pregnant women, breastfeeding women, and infants and showed that, regardless of the different periods, supplementation with vitamin D had no clear preventive effects on FA.34,35 Other birth cohort studies have shown that there is no correlation between cord blood 25(OH)D3 deficiency and FA at the ages of 1, 2, or 5 years.30,36,37
Vitamin D, skin filaggrin, allergic sensitization, and race: A complex interplay
2022, Annals of Allergy, Asthma and ImmunologyCitation Excerpt :Studies have found associations between vitamin D level and sensitization to both food and aeroallergens,15 polysensitization to more than 1 food,16 total serum immunoglobulin E levels,17 and elevated immunoglobulin E levels for specific allergens.5 Some studies have found U-shaped or inversely U-shaped associations between serum vitamin D levels and sensitization,18,19 whereas others have found associations with sensitization risk mainly at high vitamin D levels.20 The causal nature of the observed associations between vitamin D and allergic sensitization is poorly understood and is likely to involve timing, route of sensitization, epithelial barrier characteristics, exposure dose, and other factors.
Supported by the Foundation for Pediatric Research, Finska Läkaresällskapet, the Finnish Medical Foundation, Governmental Subsidy for Clinical Research, the Päivikki and Sakari Sohlberg Foundation, Stiftelsen Dorothea Olivia, Karl Walter och Jarl Walter Perkléns minne, the Academy of Finland, the Sigrid Jusélius Foundation, the Folkhälsan Research Foundation, the Novo Nordisk Foundation, the Orion Research Foundation, Barncancerfonden, and Allergy Research Foundation. The funders had no role in the design and conduct of the study; collection, analysis, or interpretation of the data; preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript; and the decision to submit the manuscript for publication. The authors declare no conflicts of interest.