Plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D, more so than its epimer, has a linear relationship to leaner body composition across infancy in healthy term infants

Abstract

Vitamin D status positively associates with skeletal muscle mass and function in adolescents. The C-3 alpha epimer of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (3-epi-25(OH)D3) is high in infants, yet the potential impacts of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)D3) and 3-epi-25(OH)D3 on skeletal muscle development are largely unexplored. The objective of this study was (i) to explore how the concentrations of 25(OH)D3 and 3-epi-25(OH)D3 track with body composition (lean mass (LM) and fat mass (FM)) and (ii) to determine the association between 25(OH)D3 and 3-epi-25(OH)D3 in infancy. Healthy breastfed infants (n = 132) were followed from 1 to 12 months of age as part of a vitamin D dose-response study (NCT00381914). Anthropometry and diet were assessed. Body composition was measured with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Plasma 25(OH)D3 and 3-epi-25(OH)D3 concentrations were evaluated using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Plasma 25(OH)D3 and 3-epi-25(OH)D3 increased from 1 to 3 months of age and decreased thereafter (p < 0.05). Infants with 25(OH)D3 concentrations above 75 nmol/L did not have a higher LM (g or %; p > 0.273) than those below this cutoff. LM was not associated with 25(OH)D3, whereas LM% was positively associated with 25(OH)D3 (β = 0.03; CI: 0.01 to 0.06; p = 0.006), while accounting for sex, weight-for-age Z-score, protein and fat intake, and age. For FM, the variables accounting for a significant amount of the variation were plasma 25(OH)D3 concentration (β = -2.38; CI: -4.35, -0.41; p = 0.019), weight-for-age Z-score, protein and fat intake, and time. In healthy infants, higher vitamin D status associates with leaner body composition, though the effect is smaller in magnitude relative to growth.

Vitamin D supplementation trial in infancy: body composition effects at 3 years of age in a prospective follow‐up study from Montréal

“…Considering our previous results demonstrating 69% of infants receiving 1200 IU d −1 were able to achieve 75 nmol L −1 by 12 months as opposed to only 38% receiving 400 IU d −1 and the results of the present study, there is a growing body of evidence to support the CPS cut‐off. Additionally, in line with our previous data in the first year of life , it appears that variation in 3‐epi‐25(OH)D 3 and 24,25(OH) 2 D 3 are not associated with body composition.…”

“…Health guidelines recommend a standard‐of‐care supplemental intake of 400 IU d −1 for infants to establish a healthy 25(OH)D concentration in the range of 50 to 125 nmol L −1 (20–50 ng mL −1 ) and to continue supplementation until a dietary source can provide this amount . Our previous dose‐response study demonstrated that vitamin D 3 dosages of at least 400 IU d −1 in breastfed infants from 1 to 12 months of age increased 25(OH)D concentrations above 50 nmol L −1 (20 ng mL −1 ) and was associated with leaner body composition . The objective of the present study was to evaluate whether vitamin D supplementation in the first year of life affects body composition at 3 years of age.…”

“…Our previous dose‐response study demonstrated that vitamin D 3 dosages of at least 400 IU d −1 in breastfed infants from 1 to 12 months of age increased 25(OH)D concentrations above 50 nmol L −1 (20 ng mL −1 ) and was associated with leaner body composition . The objective of the present study was to evaluate whether vitamin D supplementation in the first year of life affects body composition at 3 years of age. Exploratory analyses tested for predictors of lean and fat mass to clarify the importance of vitamin D against known factors in the acquisition of a healthy body composition.…”

“…This report is on an observational follow‐up of children 3 years of age who participated in a published trial . Briefly, 132 infants at 1 month of age were randomized to receive one of four dosages of vitamin D 3 (400, 800, 1200 or 1600 IU d −1 ) until 12 months with measurements conducted at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of age.…”

“…Circulating 25‐hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations positively associate with lean body composition in infants and adolescents . Correcting vitamin D deficiency in pre‐pubertal girls increased lean mass compared with placebo .…”