1. SEVERE VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY AMONG NEWBORNS IN AMMAN, JORDAN Najwa Khuri-Bulos, MD, FIDSA,3, Ryan D. Lang, BS 1, Meridith Blevins, MS 2, Katherine Kudyba, BS 1, Lindsey Lawrence, MD, MPH 1, Mario Davidson, PhD 2, Samir Faouri, MD 3, Natasha Halasa, MD, MPH 1

2. Background Background: A high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among infants has been reported in selected Middle Eastern countries. However, the current prevalence of vitamin D levels in Jordanian newborns is unknown. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Jordanian full-term newborns and risk factors associated with low levels.

3. Methods This is a prospective cohort study of newborn infants ≥37 weeks old who were delivered at the Al Bashir Hospital in Amman, Jordan from January 31, 2009 to January 27, 2011. Heel-stick blood samples for 25(OH)D levels were obtained within 96 hours of birth. Mothers were queried about mode of dress, vitamin supplementation, and smoke exposure during pregnancy. Mode of delivery, gestational age and birth weight were also documented.

4. Results Samples were analyzed from 3,682 newborns. Median gestational age was 40 weeks with median birth weight of 3.1 kg. The median age of the mothers was 26.7 years. The median 25(OH)D level for the newborns was 3.4 ng/mL. All but 6 newborns in this study were vitamin D deficient. Gestational age, maternal smoke exposure, vitamin D supplementation, time spent outside during pregnancy, and month of birth were significant predictors of infant vitamin D status.

5. Total number of newborn infants per month at Al Basheer Hospital 5

6. Vitamin d levels in newborn, Al Basheer Hospital

7. Vitamin D Versus Month of Delivery in Newborns