Abstract
Background and Objectives: Nutritional rickets is a major public problem of health in developing countries. This study was performed to evaluate the relationship between the vitamin D status of nursing mothers and their breastfed infants.
Materials and methods: In this 2 years study infants admitted in Tabriz Children's Hospital (during Feb. 2004 to Feb. 2006) with either hypocalcemia or rickets caused by vitamin D deficiency were selected. Serum level of 25OHD of 40 infants with rickets and their nursing mothers (case group) were compared with those of 40 infants without rickets (out patients) and their mothers (case group)
Results: The majority (75%) of young infants with vitamin D deficiency present with hypocalcemic seizure. The mean serum level of 25OHD in infants with rickets and their mothers were significantly lower than control group (P=0.002 and P=0.029, respectively)
Conclusion: Maternal vitamin D deficiency acts as an important risk factor in pathogenesis of nutritional rickets in the breastfed infants. The results provide justification for vitamin D supplementation in breast- fed infants and nursing mothers in East- Azarbaijan.