Vitamin D Status in Norwegian Children and Associations Between Child Vitamin D Status, Dietary Factors, and Maternal Vitamin D Status

Overview

Journal Food Nutr Res

Specialty Nutritional Sciences

Date 2025 Feb 20

PMID 39974838

Authors

Anne Lene Kristiansen

Jannicke Borch Myhre

Linn Kristin Lie Oyri

Kirsten B Holven

Lene Frost Andersen

Affiliations

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Abstract

Background And Aims: There is limited data regarding the vitamin D status of infants and young children in Norway. We aimed to assess vitamin D status among Norwegian children at approximately 6 and 12 months of age and explore associations between child vitamin D status, dietary factors, and maternal vitamin D status.

Methods: Mothers/parents completed a food frequency questionnaire for their 6/12-month-old child. Dried blood spot samples were collected from the mother and child.

Results: The mean serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (S-25(OH)D) concentration was 81 nmol/L (standard deviation [SD] 22 nmol/L) for 6-month-old children ( = 84) and 72 nmol/L (SD 22 nmol/L) for 12-month-old children ( = 56) ( = 0.03 for difference between age groups). In the younger and older age groups, 94 and 88% of the children, respectively, had a S-25(OH)D concentration ≥ 50 nmol/L. The mean dietary vitamin D intake was 12 μg/day for the 6-month-olds and 14 μg/day for the 12-month-olds. Adjusted linear regression models showed that for every μg/day increase in dietary vitamin D intake, serum 25(OH)D (nmol/L) increased by around one nmol/L for both age groups ( = 0.002 for the younger age group and = 0.04 for the older age group). Use of vitamin D supplements was associated with higher S-25(OH)D concentrations in both age groups, while a higher S-25(OH)D concentration among formula users was found only in the youngest age group. Breastfeeding was not associated with S-25(OH)D concentration in either age group. Small positive correlations between child and maternal vitamin D status were observed for both the younger ( = 0.22) and the older ( = 0.28) age groups ( = 0.04 for both groups).

Conclusion: While there was a wide range in S-25(OH)D concentrations among children, most were within the sufficient range. Adequate vitamin D intake should be encouraged both in the first and second year of life.

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