TY - JOUR
T1 - Vitamin D Supplementation Practices in Breastfed Infants in Outpatient Pediatric Clinics
AU - Saathoff, Megan
AU - Hanson, Corrine
AU - Anderson-Berry, Ann
AU - Lyden, Elizabeth
AU - Fernandez, Cristina
PY - 2014/4
Y1 - 2014/4
N2 - Background. In 2008, the American Academy of Pediatrics increased the daily recommendation from 200 to 400 IU per day of vitamin D for all infants. Therefore, it has become vital for pediatricians and other healthcare providers to recommend and verify that their patients are on vitamin D supplementation. Objective. To investigate the proportion of pediatricians recommending vitamin D at the first and 6-month visit in infants and to determine predictors of vitamin D supplementation practices. Methods. Retrospective chart review of 219 patients seen at well baby pediatric visits to document the vitamin D supplementation practices. The Wilcoxon rank sum test and Fisher's exact test were used to make comparisons of weight, gestational age, gender, breastfeeding status, and insurance status based on vitamin D practices. Results. Eighty-seven percent of exclusively breastfed infants had no pediatrician recommendations for supplemental vitamin D at the first pediatrician visit, and 71% had no recommendations for vitamin D supplementation at the 6-month visit. There were no statistically significant data suggesting that vitamin D practices vary based on a patient's gestational age, weight, gender, or insurance. Conclusion. Compliance with the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation to provide 400 IU per day of vitamin D to infants is very low.
AB - Background. In 2008, the American Academy of Pediatrics increased the daily recommendation from 200 to 400 IU per day of vitamin D for all infants. Therefore, it has become vital for pediatricians and other healthcare providers to recommend and verify that their patients are on vitamin D supplementation. Objective. To investigate the proportion of pediatricians recommending vitamin D at the first and 6-month visit in infants and to determine predictors of vitamin D supplementation practices. Methods. Retrospective chart review of 219 patients seen at well baby pediatric visits to document the vitamin D supplementation practices. The Wilcoxon rank sum test and Fisher's exact test were used to make comparisons of weight, gestational age, gender, breastfeeding status, and insurance status based on vitamin D practices. Results. Eighty-seven percent of exclusively breastfed infants had no pediatrician recommendations for supplemental vitamin D at the first pediatrician visit, and 71% had no recommendations for vitamin D supplementation at the 6-month visit. There were no statistically significant data suggesting that vitamin D practices vary based on a patient's gestational age, weight, gender, or insurance. Conclusion. Compliance with the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation to provide 400 IU per day of vitamin D to infants is very low.
KW - breastfeeding
KW - infants
KW - vitamin D
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U2 - 10.1177/1941406414521662
DO - 10.1177/1941406414521662
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84897765364
SN - 1941-4064
VL - 6
SP - 122
EP - 126
JO - Infant, Child, and Adolescent Nutrition
JF - Infant, Child, and Adolescent Nutrition
IS - 2
ER -