High prevalences of vitamin D deficiency have been reported in non-Western immigrants moving to Western countries, including Norway, but there is limited information on vitamin D status in infants born to immigrant mothers. We aimed to describe the vitamin D status and potentially correlated factors among infants aged 6 weeks and their mothers with Pakistani, Turkish or Somali background attending child health clinics in Norway. Eighty-six healthy infants and their mothers with immigrant background were recruited at the routine 6-week check-up at nine centres between 2004 and 2006. Venous or capillary blood was collected at the clinics from the mother and infant, and serum separated for analysis of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (s-25(OH)D) and intact parathyroid hormone (s-iPTH). The mean maternal s-25(OH)D was 25 nmol/l, with 57% below 25 nmol/l and 15% below 12.5 nmol/l. Of the mothers, 26% had s-iPTH>5.7 pmol/l. For infants, mean s-25(OH)D was 41.7 nmol/l, with 47% below 25 nmol/l and 34% below 12.5 nmol/l. s-25(OH)D was considerably lower in the thirty-one exclusively breast-fed infants (mean 11.1 nmol/l; P<0.0001). Use of vitamin D supplements and education showed a positive association with maternal s-25(OH)D. There was no significant association between mother's and child's s-25(OH)D, and no significant ethnic or seasonal variation in s-25(OH)D for mothers or infants. In conclusion, there is widespread vitamin D deficiency in immigrant mothers and their infants living in Norway. Exclusively breast-fed infants who did not receive vitamin D supplements had particularly severe vitamin D deficiency.

Maternal nutrition Infant nutrition Vitamin D

blood sampling Pakistan educational status immigrant Norway demography vitamin blood level human Vitamin D Dietary Supplements Turkey (republic) controlled study health status butter Vitamins ethnology milk academic achievement Breast Feeding Young Adult Humans parathyroid hormone 25 hydroxyvitamin D Infant, Newborn Emigrants and Immigrants female Infant newborn sun exposure pregnancy Mothers vitamin prevalence seasonal variation vitamin D deficiency Article blood major clinical study mother adult migration infant welfare diet supplementation Somalia Turkey vitamin supplementation fat intake ethnicity nutritional status