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Impact of vitamin D fortified milk supplementation on vitamin D status of healthy school children aged 10–14 years

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An Erratum to this article was published on 28 February 2014

Abstract

Summary

Vitamin D deficiency is a major public health problem, needing immediate attention. We studied the effect of vitamin D fortification of milk in school children. Our results show that fortification of milk is safe and effective strategy to deal with widespread vitamin D deficiency.

Introduction

Vitamin D deficiency among school children and adolescents is a well-documented major public health problem, needing immediate attention. To assess the effect of vitamin D fortified milk on serum 25 hydroxy vitamin D [S.25(OH)D] levels, we carried out a prospective double-blind randomized control trial in apparently healthy school children, aged 10–14 years.

Methods

Of 776 subjects recruited out of 796 who consented, 713 (boys-300; girls-413) completed the study. Subjects were randomized into three groups. Group A (n = 237) received 200 ml of unfortified milk per day while group B (n = 243) and group C (n = 233) received 200 ml of milk fortified with 600 IU (15 μg) and 1,000 IU (25 μg) of vitamin D per day for 12 weeks. Serum calcium, phosphate, alkaline phosphatase, S.25(OH)D, and urinary calcium/creatinine ratio were estimated at baseline and after supplementation.

Results

Hypovitaminosis D [25(OH)D < 20 ng/ml] was observed in 92.3 % subjects with mean S.25(OH)D level of 11.69 ± 5.36 ng/ml. There was no significant difference in S.25(OH)D levels among the three groups at baseline. The mean percentage change in S.25(OH)D level in groups B (137.97 %) and C (177.29 %.) were significantly greater than group A (−5.25 %). The percentage of subjects having S.25(OH)D levels >20 ng/ml following supplementation were 5.9 % in group A, 69.95 % in group B, and 81.11 % in group C in comparison to 6.32 %, 4.9 % and 12 %, respectively, at baseline.

Conclusion

Fortification of milk with vitamin D is an effective and safe strategy in improving S.25(OH)D levels in children aged 10–14 years.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Mr. D H PaiPanandiker, chairman and Ms RekhaSinha, CEO, International Life Sciences Institute (India), and Wg Cdr (Dr) Anjali Gautam for their administrative and tactical support. We also acknowledge help rendered by Gopaljee Dairy Foods Pvt.Ltd., New Delhi in production of fortified milk. We are also thankful to Ms Pamela Marwaha for supervision of the project.

We highly appreciate the support of the school authorities, staff, parents, and the children for their active participation. We would like to put on record our appreciation for the help rendered by Ms Nazmeen, Mr. Anthresh Back, Ms. Anjani Bakshi, and Ms. Pinky Kaushik in successful completion of the project.

Financial support

This project was funded by DSM Nutritional Products India Pvt Ltd. Vitamin D3 for fortification was provided by them.

Conflicts of interest

The authors have nothing to disclose.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Endocrinology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India

    R. Khadgawat, R. Ramot, A. K. Oberoi & N. Gupta

  2. International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI), Flat No 17, Gautam Apartments, Gautam Nagar, New Delhi, 110049, India

    R. K. Marwaha

  3. Department of Endocrinology, Army Hospital (Research & Referral), Delhi, India

    M. K. Garg

  4. Department of Biostatistics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India

    V. Sreenivas

  5. Department of Dietitics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India

    M. Gahlot

  6. Department of Medicine, Sur Homeopathy Medical College, Delhi, India

    N. Mehan

  7. Department of Lab Medicine, Trauma Center, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India

    P. Mathur

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  1. R. Khadgawat
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  10. N. Gupta
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to R. K. Marwaha.

Additional information

Clinical Trial Registration Number—CTRI/2012/02/002429 India

Both RK and RKM should be considered as joint first authors

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Khadgawat, R., Marwaha, R.K., Garg, M.K. et al. Impact of vitamin D fortified milk supplementation on vitamin D status of healthy school children aged 10–14 years. Osteoporos Int 24, 2335–2343 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-013-2306-9

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