Sudfeld, Christopher R.Manji, Karim P.Smith, EmilyAboud, SaidKisenge, RodrickFawzi, WafaieDuggan, Christopher2017-12-062017Sudfeld, Christopher R., Karim P. Manji, Emily R. Smith, Said Aboud, Rodrick Kisenge, Wafaie W. Fawzi, and Christopher P. Duggan. 2017. “Vitamin D Deficiency Is Not Associated With Growth or the Incidence of Common Morbidities Among Tanzanian Infants.” Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition 65 (4): 467-474. doi:10.1097/MPG.0000000000001658. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MPG.0000000000001658.http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:34492426ABSTRACT Objective: The objective of this study was to examine risk factors for vitamin D deficiency and determine the association of vitamin D status with child growth and incidence of common morbidities among Tanzanian infants. Methods: A prospective cohort of 581 Tanzanian infants born to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-uninfected mothers had serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D assessed at 6 weeks and 6 months of age. Infants were seen at monthly clinic visits for growth monitoring until 18 months of age. Physicians examined infants every 3 months or when an illness was noted to document morbidities. Results: The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (<20 ng/mL) declined from 76.4% at 6 weeks of age to 21.2% at 6 months. Infants who were exclusively breastfed at 6 weeks of age had 2.05 (95% confidence interval 1.11–3.79; P = 0.02) times the risk of vitamin D deficiency as compared formula-fed infants. After multivariate adjustment, there was no association of vitamin D status at 6 weeks or 6 months with the incidence of stunting, wasting, or underweight. There was also no association of low vitamin D with the incidence of diarrhea, upper respiratory infection, acute lower respiratory tract infection, or malaria. Conclusions: Vitamin D deficiency is common during early infancy, particularly among exclusively breastfed infants; however, these observational data suggest it may not be an important contributor to morbidity and growth among the general population of Tanzanian infants. Future studies of vitamin D among high-risk infants, including those with low birthweight and exposed to HIV, may be warranted.en-UScohort studiesinfantmicronutrientsnutritionvitamin DJournal Article2017-12-0610.1097/MPG.0000000000001658