Influence of Vitamin D on Linear Growth of Normal Full-term Infants

Abstract

Because of the possibility that moderate overdosage of vitamin D may interfere with linear growth of human infants, rates of growth and serum concentrations of calcium and inorganic phosphorus were studied in normal full-term male infants fed ad libitum with evaporated milk formulas that supplied either 350 to 550 USP units of vitamin D or 1,380 to 2,170 USP units daily. A group of breastfed male infants receiving 300 USP units of vitamin D daily was also studied. Rates of growth in length and weight and serum concentrations of calcium were similar in the 3 groups. Serum concentrations of inorganic phosphorus were similar in the 2 groups fed evaporated milk; concentrations in these groups were significantly greater than those of the breastfed infants. The study fails to provide evidence that moderate overdosage of vitamin D interferes with rate of growth of normal infants.