VITAMIN D STATUS AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH GROWTH PARAMETERS IN INFANTS: A LITERATURE REVIEW

This article analyzes the relationship between vitamin D status and infant growth, focusing on birth weight, linear growth, and body mass index. It examines evidence from mechanistic studies, observational cohorts, and randomized controlled trials, showing that vitamin D deficiency is associated with poorer growth, although intervention studies report smaller and inconsistent effects. The review emphasizes that adequate vitamin D is important for infant growth and skeletal health, but supplementation should not be considered a stand-alone strategy for improving growth.