A Randomized Clinical Trial of Prophylactic Effects of Vitamin D on Different Indices of Osteopenia of Prematurity

Prevention and treatment of the rickets of prematurity is an important aspect of the care of preterm infants. The purpose of this study was to compare the prophylactic effects of different doses of vitamin D on the clinical, biochemical and radiological indices of the rickets of prematurity. In a randomized clinical trial, 68 premature infants (<38 weeks) with birth weight under 2000 g, randomly divided in two groups. Infants received 400 IU/d vitamin D in Group A (n=32) and 1000 IU/d in group B (n= 36). On the 9th week of birth, serum calcium, phosphate, and alkaline phosphatase were measured and x-ray of left wrist and physical examination were performed. The average serum calcium, phosphate and alkaline phosphatase in both groups had no difference (P= 0.326, 0.466, 0.147, respectively) and no one had a radiological or clinical picture of rickets. In conclusion we recommend low dose vitamin D for prevention of the osteopenia of prematurity.