Effect of Maternal Supplementation With Two Different Doses of Vitamin D During Lactation on Vitamin D Status, Anthropometry and Bone Mass of Infants: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: There is a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (VDD) in exclusively breast-fed infants in the absence of appropriate vitamin D supplementation. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of two doses of maternal vitamin D supplementation on vitamin D levels of mother-infant pairs and to assess its effect on growth parameters (weight, length and head circumference) and bone mass of infants. Study design: Randomized controlled trial. Participants: Lactating mother-infant pairs (n=220). Intervention: Maternal oral vitamin D supplementation in two doses (group 1: 1,20,000 IU/month and group 2: 12,000 IU/month) for 12 months. Main outcomes: Maternal and infant serum 25OHD levels, and infants’ growth and bone mass. Results: There was high prevalence of VDD at baseline in mothers (94%) as well as infants (98.5%), which was reduced to 43.1% in (mothers) and 46.5% in infants after 12 months. Significantly higher median (IQR) serum 25OHD levels (ng/mL) were observed among mothers in group 1 compared to group 2 [46 (17-159) vs 18 (6-64); P<0.01] and in infants [36.5 (15-160) vs 17 (7-32); P<0.01]. No significant association was observed between growth parameters or bone mass and serum 25OHD levels of mother or infant between the two groups. Four mothers (3.6%) and two infants (1.8%) in group I had serum 25OHD>100 ng/mL, but without hypercalciuria or hypercalcemia. Conclusion: Bolus vitamin D supplementation in the dose of 1,20,000 IU/month was more efficacious in improving maternal and infant vitamin D status at 12 months, as compared to 12,000 IU/month.

Indian Academy of Pediatrics Revised (2021) Guidelines on Prevention and Treatment of Vitamin D Deficiency and Rickets

Justification: The emerging literature on prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in India, prevention and treatment strategies of rickets, and extra-skeletal benefits of vitamin D suggest the need for revising the existing guidelines for prevention and treatment of vitamin D deficiency in India. Objectives: To review the emerging literature on vitamin D prevalence and need for universal vitamin D supplementation. To suggest optimum vitamin D therapy for treatment of asymptomatic and symptomatic vitamin D deficiency, and rickets. To evaluate the extra-skeletal health benefits of vitamin D in children. Process: A National consultative committee was formed that comprised of clinicians, epidemiologists, endocrinologists, and nutritionists. The Committee conducted deliberations on different aspects of vitamin D deficiency and rickets through ten online meetings between March and September, 2021. A draft guideline was formulated, which was reviewed and approved by all Committee members. Recommendations: The group reiterates the serum 25- hydroxy vitamin D cutoffs proposed for vitamin D deficiency, insufficiency, and sufficiency as <12 ng/mL, 12-20 ng/mL and >20 ng/mL, respectively. Vitamin D toxicity is defined as serum 25OHD >100 ng/mL with hypercalcemia and/or hypercalciuria. Vitamin D supplementation in doses of 400 IU/day is recommended during infancy; however, the estimated average requirement in older children and adolescents (400-600 IU/day) should be met from diet and natural sources like sunlight. Rickets and vitamin D deficiency should be treated with oral cholecalciferol, preferably in a daily dosing schedule (2000 IU below 1 year of age and 3000 IU in older children) for 12 weeks. If compliance to daily dosing cannot be ensured, intermittent regimens may be prescribed for children above 6 months of age. Universal vitamin D supplementation is not recommended in childhood pneumonia, diarrhea, tuberculosis, HIV and non-infectious conditions like asthma, atopic dermatitis, and developmental disorders. Serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D level of >20 ng/mL should be maintained in children with conditions at high-risk for vitamin deficiency, like nephrotic syndrome, chronic liver disease, chronic renal failure, and intake of anticonvulsants or glucocorticoids.

Predictive Performance Of Different Diagnostic Criteria For Overweight And Obesity Between 2008-2015 In Adolescents

Background: The reference cut-offs for overweight and obesity have evolved from the use of International obesity task force (IOTF) to extended IOTF and revised Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) growth charts. Methods: Secondary analysis of anthropometric data of school-going children from Delhi in the year 2008, 2013 and 2015 was performed. The proportions of children with overweight, obesity, and undernutrition were checked for agreement using different diagnostic cutoffs, and compared at three-time points. Results: Among 8417 adolescents, weighted Kappa statistics showed good agreement between extended IOTF and IAP cutoffs (k=0.933; 95% CI 0.93-0.94), between eIOTF and IOTF (k=0.624; 95% CI 0.619 - 0.629) and between IAP and IOTF (k=0.654; 95% CI 0.645-0.662). A higher proportion of adolescents were diagnosed with obesity with extended IOTF and IAP charts than IOTF charts (P<0.001 for both genders). The mean (SD) BMI showed a rising trend for adolescents overall from 19.61 (3.89) kg/m2 in 2008, 20.44 (4.37) kg/m2 in 2013 and 20.88 (4.60) kg/m2 in 2015 (P<0.001). 158 adolescent (97 girls) were undernourished using combined IAP and extended IOTF criteria. Conclusion: Both extended IOTF and IAP charts showed good agreement for diagnosing overweight and obesity in adolescents. A secular trend in malnutrition was observed in adolescent girls.

Peripheral Precocious Puberty Caused by Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Producing Pineal Gland Tumor

Background: Pineal gland lesions usually present with central precocious puberty.Case characteristics: A 3½-yr-old boy presented with precocious puberty. Clinically andbiochemically, it was gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) independent. Serum andCSF beta-hCG levels were increased. Thin section magnetic resonance imaging of brainrevealed a pineal gland tumor. Outcome: He received chemotherapy followed byradiotherapy and responded well. Message: CSF ?-hCG should be measured in all cases ofperipheral precocity, and if CSF beta-hCG is elevated, thin section magnetic resonanceimaging of brain should be considered.

Age of Onset of Puberty in Apparently Healthy School Girls from Northern India.

Objective: To determine the age of pubertal onset and menarche in school-going girls, and to assess the impact of obesity on pubertal timing. Design: Cross-sectional Setting: Seven schools across Delhi, India. Participants: 2010 school girls, aged 6-17 years Methods: Anthropometric measurement and pubertal staging was performed for all subjects. Menarche was recorded by ‘status quo’ method. Body mass index was used to define overweight/obesity. Serum gonadotropins and serum estradiol were measured in every sixth participant. Main outcome measure: Age at thelarche and menarche—analyzed for entire cohort and stratified based on body mass index. Results: Median (95% CI) ages of thelarche, pubarche and menarche were 10.8 (10.7-10.9) y, 11.0. y (10.8-11.2) y and 12.4 y (12.2-12.5) y. Overweight/obese girls showed six months earlier onset of thelarche and menarche than those with normal BMI (P<0.05). Serum gonadotropins did not vary significantly in overweight/obese subjects. Conclusion: The study provides the normative data for pubertal growth in Indian girls. Pubertal onset occurs earlier in overweight and obese girls.

Waist Circumference Rather than Body Mass Index is Better Indicator of Insulin Resistance in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in North Indian Population.

Obesity and insulin resistance (IR) are associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Obesity can be quantified by body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC). Similarly, IR is commonly quantified by fasting-plasma-insulin (FPI) and Homeostatic model assessment (HOMA-IR). We aimed our study to find correlation between obesity-parameters and IR especially in the Indian population where despite lower BMI there is more prevalence of type 2 DM. In 34 uncomplicated patients of type 2 DM weight and WC were measured and BMI was calculated. HOMA-IR and FPI level were estimated to assess IR. Significant correlation was found between HOMA-IR and WC (r = +0.368, P = 0.0324) but it was non-significant between HOMAIR and BMI. Correlations were also not significant between FPI and WC or BMI.In conclusion, HOMA-IR and WC are better measures of IR and obesity as compared to FPI and BMI, respectively in type 2 DM.

Coeliac disease in patients with short stature: A tertiary care centre experience.

Background. We aimed to determine the prevalence of coeliac disease among children with short stature at a tertiary care centre and to define the predictors for coeliac disease, if any, in them. Methods. In this retrospective study, we reviewed the case records of children and adolescents with growth retardation attending the Paediatric Endocrinology Clinic from January 2008 to June 2011. All patients underwent the multi-tier stratified diagnostic protocol for complete evaluation of short stature. Coeliac disease was screened using IgA-anti-tissue transglutaminase antibody. The diagnosis of coeliac disease was made on the basis of the modified European Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) criteria. Results. Of 432 patients (238 boys) who presented with short stature, 72 (16.7%) had physiological, while 360 (83.3%) had pathological causes. Endocrine causes were growth hormone deficiency (86 patients, 19.9%), hypopituitarism (31, 7.2%), hypothyroidism (22, 5.1%) and others (7, 1.6%). The systemic causes were: coeliac disease (47, 10.9%), haematological diseases (14, 3.2%), renal diseases (11, 2.5%) and others (24, 5.6%). Chronic diarrhoea (OR 15.7, 95% CI 7.8–31.5) and anaemia (OR 4.9, 95% CI 1.9–12.7]) were significant predictors for coeliac disease in patients with short stature. There was a definite response to gluten-free diet in them and the mean (SD) growth velocity measured over at least 6 months of gluten-free diet was 8.1 (3.0) cm/year. Conclusion. Nearly 11% of patients presenting with short stature have coeliac disease. In these patients chronic diarrhoea and anaemia were significant predictors of coeliac disease.

Interleukin-6, vitamin D & diabetes risk-factors modified by a short-term yoga-based lifestyle intervention in overweight/obese individuals.

Background & objectives: Several diabetes prevention programmes have demonstrated a reduction in incidence of diabetes in individuals with prediabetes through weight loss. Short-term yoga-based lifestyle intervention programmes have also been shown to be efficacious in weight loss. This study was undertaken to investigate if interleukin (IL)-6, vitamin D, neopterin, vaspin, and diabetes risk factors can be modified by a short-term yoga-based lifestyle intervention in overweight/obese subjects. Methods: In this pilot study, 34 overweight/obese [body mass index (BMI) ≥23 to <35 kg/m2 per Asian cut-off values] individuals were enrolled, and received directly supervised intervention for 10 days. Thereafter, they were advised to follow this yoga-based lifestyle at home for one month, and were reassessed for study variables at day 30. Results: There was a reduction from baseline to day 10 in weight (p<0.001), BMI (p<0.001), waist/hip-ratio (p<0.05), blood glucose (p<0.01), and a significant improvement in lipid profile. There was a decrease in median fasting insulin (p<0.05), homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (p<0.01), and IL-6 (p<0.05). A non-significant increase in 25-OH-vitamin D, and a decrease in neopterin and vaspin were observed. Twenty subjects returned for follow up assessments. At day 30, weight loss was sustained while systolic blood pressure also showed reduction (p<0.05). Changes in vitamin D levels were significantly and negatively correlated with changes in weight, BMI and fasting blood glucose, and positively with change in high density lipoprotein. Changes in body weight and BMI significantly and positively correlated with insulin. Changes in IL-6 levels positively and significantly correlated with change in neopterin levels. Interpretation & conclusions: the findings showed that IL-6, vitamin D, and diabetes risk factors were favourably modified by a short-term yoga-based lifestyle intervention in obesity. This study also highlighted the challenges in compliance associated with the follow up of subjects following an aggressive supervised intervention of 10 days.

Evaluation of lactose and milk intolerance, and bone mineral density in Indian patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Background. A misconception that milk and lactose intolerance increases disease activity in inflammatory bowel disease leads to the exclusion of dietary dairy products, and patients are at an increased risk of low bone mineral density. Methods. Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (n=45, 19 men and 26 women) and healthy controls were included in this prospective open-label study. As part of exploratory dietary intervention, patients were advised to exclude milk and milk products from diet for the first 7 days and reintroduce at least 250 ml of milk for the next 21 days. Milk and lactose intolerance was assessed in patients and healthy subjects using clinical symptoms and lactose hydrogen breath test, respectively; bone mineral density was assessed in patients using a Hologic QDR 4500A DXA machine. Results. Milk and lactose intolerance was statistically comparable in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (31% and 44%, respectively) and healthy subjects (22% and 27%, respectively). Most of the patients (40%) had excluded dairy products from their diet, and 53% had dietary intake of calcium <200 mg/day. More than 60% of the patients had either osteopenia or osteoporosis. Conclusion. Milk and lactose intolerance in patients with inflammatory bowel disease was not different from that in healthy subjects. The proportion of patients with osteoporosis and osteopenia was high in this population. Hence, patients with inflammatory bowel disease in remission phase may be encouraged to add dairy products in their diet, unless otherwise indicated.

Congenital generalized lipodystrophy of Berardinelli-Seip type: A rare case.

Congenital generalized lipodystrophy of Berardinelli-Seip type is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by nearly complete absence of adipose tissue and a consequent generalized muscular appearance, which is recognized easily at birth. The condition is associated with various dermatological and systemic manifestations. We report a case of this form of lipodystrophy. The patient had several cutaneous manifestations, including severe acanthosis nigricans, generalized hyperpigmentation, curly scalp hair, prominent subcutaneous veins, and enlarged clitoris. She also had associated celiac disease.

Evaluation of bone mineral density among patients with inflammatory bowel disease in a tertiary care setting in India.

BACKGROUND: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have low bone mineral density (BMD). Dietary calcium is important for them in the prevention of osteopenia and osteoporosis. There are no reports on the status of BMD in Indian patients with IBD. METHODS: Dietary calcium intake and cumulative steroid and immunosuppressive drug use was noted in 46 randomly selected patients (mean [SD] age 40.5 [14.7] years; 28 men) with IBD (ulcerative colitis 22, Crohn's disease 24). To compare values of BMD for patients, data from 46 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (age 40.5 [14.6] years; 28 men) were selected from an existing database of healthy Indian volunteers whose BMD had been measured in a community-based survey carried out among people residing in Delhi (unpublished data). BMD was measured using DXA (Hologic QDR 4500). Osteopenia and osteoporosis were defined as per the standard WHO criteria. RESULTS: The mean duration of disease was 87.7 (78.3) months. The mean calcium intake by 41 patients (89.1%) was <200 mg/day, by 2 patients (4.3%) 200-400 mg/day and by 3 patients (6.4%)>400 mg/day. Significantly lower values of BMD at the spine and hip regions were seen in patients with both ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease as compared with Indian healthy controls. In comparison to age- and sex-matched healthy controls, 29 (63%) and 21 (45.6%) patients had either osteopenia or osteoporosis at the spine and hip region, respectively. Of them, 4 and 7 patients had osteoporosis at the spine and hip region, respectively. There was no correlation between values of BMD and the age of patient, duration of disease, and cumulative steroid dose. CONCLUSIONS: Two thirds of Indian patients with IBD have low BMD. Since the intake of dietary calcium is inadequate in a majority of these patients, they should be advised to increase the intake of dairy products.

Celiac disease: variations of presentations in adults.

BACKGROUND: Patients with celiac disease, who remain undiagnosed or asymptomatic in childhood, may present in adulthood with either typical or atypical features. METHODS: In a retrospective analysis, we reviewed the case records of 45 consecutive patients with celiac disease diagnosed in adulthood. The diagnosis of celiac disease was made on the basis of the modified European Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition criteria. The modes of presentation, clinical manifestations, endoscopic features and histological features were analyzed. RESULTS: The mean age of these patients at diagnosis was 28.7 (11.2) years. The median duration of symptoms before diagnosis was 2.5 years (range: 6 months to 40 years). Chronic diarrhea was the presenting manifestation in 20 (44%) patients only. Twenty-two (49%) patients were referred to us by hematologists, endocrinologists or gynecologists for evaluation of refractory anemia in 10 (2.2%), short stature in 6 (13.3%), metabolic bone disease in 2 (4.4%) and secondary infertility or delayed menarche in 4 (8.8%). Intestinal mucosal folds were scalloped in 31 (69%), attenuated in 34 (76%) and normal looking in 11 (24%) of them. Mild, moderate and severe villous abnormalities on intestinal mucosal biopsies were present in 10 (22.2%), 15 (33.3%) and 19 (42.2%) patients, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: More than half of adult patients with celiac disease present with atypical manifestations. A high index of suspicion is required for diagnosing variant forms of celiac disease in adults.