IDENTIFYING VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY IN VERY LOW BIRTH WEIGHT INFANTS

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This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. This study involves mothers and their premature infants. Vitamin D is a vitamin that helps the intestines absorb calcium. Calcium is very important for healthy growth of bones. Vitamin D may also be important in decreasing the risk of developing diabetes. We know that many mothers have low vitamin D levels and therefore, their babies are born with low vitamin D levels. This study is to determine the prevalence of low vitamin D in premature infants who weigh less than 1500 grams at birth and how this level changes during the first 8 weeks of age. The effect of low vitamin D will be checked by a scan called a DEXA scan that measures the density or thickness of the baby's bones. Insulin levels also will be measured to see whether low vitamin D affects the baby's ability to use glucose for energy.