Effect of maternal Vitamin D on linear growth of children less than 5 years

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Created On: 18/11/2022

A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational and interventional studies aimed to synthesize a systematic summary of literature on the impact of supplementing maternal Vitamin D on the linear growth of children less than 5 years old.

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Key take away

Prenatal Vitamin D use in raised doses (>2000 international units), low frequency (less frequently or monthly), and later gestation period (>twenty weeks) was positively related to improved child length/height.

Background

Method

This investigation contained research that assessed how prenatal Vitamin D status affected linear growth of children (both interventional and observational with control group). Using a random-effects model, weighted mean difference was calculated using mean child length and length for age with a 95% confidence interval. In order to evaluate potential publication bias, a funnel plot was used.

Result

The analysis included 45 studies and 66 publications totalling 44,992 subjects (19,683 in the high Vitamin D group and 25,309 in the low Vitamin D group). Notably, 0.4 cm was the pooled weighted mean difference. The kids whose mothers were given diverse dosages of Vitamin D during pregnancy or mothers who already had adequate Vitamin D displayed a considerable rise in length of birth.

According to subgroup assessment, mothers who received Vitamin D supplementation monthly or less frequently had children that were 0.7 cm longer. Child length at birth was raised by supplementation at a dose of more than 2000 international units. Weighted mean difference was found to be 0.35 cm.

Conclusion

Vitamin D supplementation for the mother was related to raised birth length. This was noticeable in the second and third trimesters, at low frequency (monthly or less frequently), and at elevated doses. Prenatal Vitamin D use seems to be protective of young children's future growth.