Study to evaluate two dosage regimens of vitamin d through an academic year in middle school girls: a randomized trial

Vitamin D is an essential hormone for growth and development of bones in children. There is a lot of evidence for deficiency of this vitamin in Middle East females. This study conduct to find a way to combat deficiency in girls during rapid growth phase of puberty in academic year. One hundred and two Middle School girls who had not consumed any vitamins supplement have been participated in this randomized clinical trial. They allocated randomly in two case groups who received 50, 000 or 100, 000 IU vitamin D3 in October and three months later in January or in control group who received vitamin E. At the end of winter blood samples for 25-hydroxyvitamin D were checked. The mean of 25-hydroxyvitamin D were 5.5 +/- 1.5 ng/ml, 15.2 +/- 6 ng/ml, 23.0 +/- 6.8 ng/ml in control, 50, 000 and 100, 000 IU vitamin D groups respectively [P<0.05]. Neither dosage of vitamin D could raise 25-hydroxyvitamin D above 20 ng/ml in all cases. However, none of the students in 100.000 IU of vitamin D3 had severe deficiency in winter. Headache, dizziness, and weakness were the most common complain after vitamin D consumption, but no difference between groups detected [P>0.05]. Urine calcium/creatinin ratio was equal in case and control groups [P>0.05]. 100, 000 IU of vitamin D3 every three months [equal to 800IU/day] can raise 25-hydroxyvitamin D above 12 ng/ml in all cases but for area with high prevalence of sever deficiency, dosage more than 100, 000 IU every three months or shorter interval recommended to achieve optimal level

Water status of breastfed infants during weaning in Yazd, Iran

To investigate the state of hydration in infants during the weaning period in dry and hot climates in the center of Iran. Using a refractometer, 162 urine specific gravity [USG] was measured from 400 infants, between 4 to 6 months old. They were chosen among infants who visited the primary clinics in the city of Yazd, Iran for routine vaccination during the summer and winter of 2005. A questionnaire was filled out on air conditioning system and diet from mothers. A USG > 1.020 was accepted as dehydrated, and a USG < 1.010 as well hydrated. Thirty-one percent of the infants were dehydrated, and 34% were well hydrated, infants were more dehydrated in summer [p < 0.05]. Twenty-seven percent of them started solid food without water supplementation, and dehydration was significant in most of them [p < 0.05]. We could not determine which type of air conditioning devices now used at home affect water status, but there was a trend toward dehydration in those using both fan and cooler [p=0.096]. In the desert area in the center of Iran, during weaning, approximately one third of the infants are exposed to the danger of dehydration. Our primary health care provider should consider the priority of water during weaning when water supplementation is safe