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To assess the vitamin D status in healthy 6‐month‐old infants, as well as vitamin D supplementation and feeding patterns in Guangzhou, China, serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) concentrations of 202 infants were measured at birth (cord blood) and at 6 months of age in Guangzhou, China. Questionnaires acquiring demographic characteristics, maternal and infantile vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy and first 6 months after birth, and feeding patterns during the first 6 months were completed by participating mothers. Physical examinations and blood sampling were carried out among infants at 6 months of age. The majority of infants (93.6%) were supplemented with vitamin D during the first 6 months of life on a voluntary basis. The M ± SD of cord serum 25OHD concentration was 46.2 ± 16.4 nmol/L, whereas the M ± SD of 25OHD concentration at 6 months was 82.9 ± 24.9 nmol/L. Serum 25OHD concentrations <30 nmol/L were seen in 34 (16.8%) infants at birth but only one (0.5%) at 6 months. Only 11 (5.4%) infants had concentrations >75 nmol/L at birth, whereas the majority of infants (n = 131, 64.9%) had concentrations >75 nmol/L at 6 months. The main predictors of 25OHD levels at 6 months included season, vitamin D supplementation, parental education level, and feeding patterns. To conclude, serum 25OHD concentrations were low at birth in a southern Chinese population, and infantile supplementation is an effective way to improve 25OHD status. Exclusively breastfed infants might need greater vitamin D supplementation, and individualized vitamin D supplementation plans might be needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitamin B6 is important in fetal development, but little is known of the vitamin B6 status of pregnant women and newborns in North America and potential modifying factors. This prospective study determined maternal and cord plasma concentrations of pyridoxal 5′ phosphate (PLP; an indicator of vitamin B6 status) in a convenience sample of 368 Canadian pregnant women and their newborns. The association of maternal intake of vitamin B6 and fetal genetic variants with cord plasma PLP and homocysteine concentrations was also examined. Dietary and supplemental intakes of vitamin B6 were assessed in early and mid to late pregnancy. PLP concentrations were measured in maternal plasma in early pregnancy and at delivery, and in cord plasma. Six fetal variants of the MTHFR and CβS genes were assessed for their association with cord plasma PLP and homocysteine concentrations. Geometric mean (95% CI) PLP concentrations were 107 (98, 116) nmol/L in early pregnancy and 58 (53, 62) nmol/L at delivery, respectively, and 296 (275, 319) nmol/L in cord blood ( p < .0001). During early pregnancy and at delivery, 3.6% and 5.5% of women had plasma PLP concentrations <20 nmol/L, respectively. Ninety eight percent of the women with supplemental B6 intake of at least the recommended dietary allowance had PLP concentrations >20 nmol/L. Fetal genetic variants were not associated with cord PLP and homocysteine concentrations. Vitamin B6 deficiency is uncommon in a cohort of Canadian pregnant women due largely to prevalent vitamin B6 supplement use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gestational vitamin D insufficiency is related with increased risks of various diseases and poor health outcomes later in life. Telomere length at birth or early in life is known to be a predictor of individual health. Both vitamin D and telomere length are related with various health conditions, and vitamin D concentrations are associated with leukocyte telomere lengths in women. We investigated the association between maternal vitamin D concentrations and newborn leukocyte telomere lengths. This cross-sectional study included 106 healthy pregnant women without adverse obstetric outcomes and their offspring. We examined the maternal age, weight before pregnancy, health behaviours, and nutritional intakes, along with each newborn's sex and birthweight, and we measured maternal height, telomere length, total white blood cell count, and glycosylated haemoglobin as covariates. Pearson's correlation coefficients were calculated to evaluate the relationship between the baseline variables and newborn leukocyte telomere lengths. To confirm that there was an independent association between newborn leukocyte telomere lengths and maternal vitamin D concentrations, we performed a stepwise multiple linear regression analysis. Newborn leukocyte telomere lengths correlated positively with maternal leukocyte telomere lengths ( r = .76, p < .01), maternal 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations ( r = .72, p < .01), maternal energy intakes ( r = .22, p = .03), and newborn body weights ( r = .51, p < .01). In the multivariate model, newborn leukocyte telomere lengths were associated with maternal vitamin D concentrations (β = .33, p < .01). These findings suggest that the maternal vitamin D concentration during pregnancy may be a significant determinant of the offspring's telomere length. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the nutritional status of lactating women with regard to vitamins A and E and the relationship between dietary intake and concentrations in serum and milk. A longitudinal study was conducted with 43 women at a hospital in northeastern Brazil. Blood and milk samples and food intake recalls were obtained at three moments during the breastfeeding period. Retinol and alpha‐tocopherol were analysed by high‐performance liquid chromatography. Dietary inadequacy was analysed according to the estimated average requirement, with intrapersonal variation adjusted by the multiple source method. Food intake was classified by quartiles of consumption. Serum retinol was 1.65 μmol/L, with 5% of low concentrations (<0.7 μmol/L) at the first collection. Serum alpha‐tocopherol decreased from 30.18 to 25.49 μmol/L at the third collection (P = 0.008), with an increase in the percentage frequency of deficiency (<12 μmol/L). Both vitamins maintained stable concentrations in milk at the different collection times, and the overall dietary inadequacy of vitamins A and E was 58% and 100%, respectively. There was a correlation only between vitamin A intake and serum retinol (r = 0.403, P = 0.007), and higher retinol concentrations were found in women classified in the highest consumption quartile (P = 0.031). Over the course of lactation, there was a high degree of inadequacy in vitamin intake and a reduction in serum alpha‐tocopherol, whereas its concentrations in milk remained unchanged. Dietary intake of vitamin A has been shown to influence serum retinol, which underscores the importance of adequate nutrition and monitoring of vitamin deficiency during lactation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitamin D deficiency has adverse health effects in young children. Our aims were to determine predictors of vitamin D status and then to use these factors to develop a practical tool to predict low 25(OH)D concentrations in preschool New Zealand children. A cross-sectional sample of 1329 children aged 2 to <5 years were enrolled from throughout New Zealand in late-winter to spring 2012. 25-Hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) was measured on dried blood spot (DBS) samples collected using finger-prick sampling. Caregivers completed a questionnaire. Mean (SD) DBS 25(OH)D concentration was 52(19)nmol/L. 25(OH)D < 25 nmol/L was present in 86(7%), 25(OH)D < 50 nmol/L in 642(48%), 25(OH)D 50- < 75 nmol/L in 541(41%) and 25(OH)D > 75 nmol/L in 146(11%) of children. Factors independently associated with the risk of 25(OH)D < 25 nmol/L were female gender (OR 1.92,95%CI 1.17-3.14), other non-European ethnicities (not including Māori or Pacific) (3.51,1.89-6.50), had olive-dark skin colour (4.52,2.22-9.16), did not take vitamin D supplements (2.56,1.06-6.18), had mothers with less than secondary-school qualifications (5.00,2.44-10.21) and lived in more deprived households (1.27,1.06-1.53). Children who drank toddler milk (vitamin D fortified cow's milk formula marketed to young children) had a zero risk of 25(OH)D < 25 nmol/L. The predictive tool identified children at risk of 25(OH)D < 25 nmol/L with sensitivity 42%, specificity 97% and ROC area-under-curve 0.76(95%CI 0.67-0.86, p < 0.001). Predictors of low vitamin D status were consistent with those identified in previous studies of New Zealand children. The tool had insufficient predictive ability for use in clinical situations, and suggests a need to promote safe, inexpensive testing to determine vitamin D status in preschool children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is recommended that infants from the age of 12 months should be weaned from bottles. However, an overwhelming proportion of young children were still using bottle after the recommended age of bottle-weaning. This cross-sectional study examined the association between utensils for milk drinking and food group consumption, growth and socio-demographic characteristics among young children. Data from the Survey of Infant and Young Child Feeding in Hong Kong were analyzed for 649 children aged 18-48 months old. Dietary outcomes were obtained via 3-day dietary records, while utensils for milk drinking and socio-demographic characteristics were collected from a self-developed questionnaire. Length/height and weight of the children were measured by the nurses. Results showed that daily consumption of formula milk was significantly greater among bottle users or bottle plus cup users than non-bottle users ( p < 0.05). Exclusive bottle users had significantly lower intakes of meat and meat alternatives than bottle plus cup users for the 18 to 24-month group ( p = 0.001) and lower intakes of fruits than non-bottle users in the 48-month group ( p = 0.015). BMI z-score was significantly higher for exclusive bottle users than non-bottle users, even after adjusting for socio-economic factors and child's age ( p = 0.006). The results showed that the milk drinking utensil was associated with the amount of formula milk and food group consumption as well as BMI z-score. There is a need to actively discourage prolonged bottle use in order to help young children develop good dietary habits. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]