Hb level in relation to vitamin D status in healthy infants and toddlers

OBJECTIVE: To assess the presence of an association between vitamin D deficiency and anaemia in Jordanian infants and toddlers, in whom both vitamin D deficiency and anaemia have previously been proved to be common separately. DESIGN: Cross-sectional prospective study. SETTING: Department of Paediatrics, Princess Rahma Teaching Hospital, Jordan. SUBJECTS: Healthy infants and children aged 6-36 months who were seen for primary care. RESULTS: Out of 203 infants and toddlers included in the study, the anaemia prevalence was 40·4 %. The prevalence of anaemia among infants (n 110) was 51·8 %, whereas it was 26·9 % among toddlers (n 93). No association between vitamin D status and anaemia was found. CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin D deficiency is not a risk for anaemia in infants and toddlers.