Serum vitamin D and lipid profile differences between breastfed and Formula-fed infants

The serum levels of some biochemical markers reflect an individual’s health status, particularly during infancy. This study aimed to compare the levels of serum vitamin D and lipid profile between two groups of infants: those exclusively breastfed and those fed with infant formula. This cross-sectional study enrolled a total of 160 pediatric participants (70 males, 90 females) aged between 3 days and 30 months (average age: 10.11 months) after obtaining informed consent. Serum levels of Vitamin D, LDL, HDL, TG, and COL were analyzed using routine methods on an Alpha Classic AT-Plus analyser. Infants consuming infant formula were found to have significantly higher levels of serum vitamin D compared to those exclusively breastfed (p < 0.001). Moreover, the levels of various lipid profile factors, with the exception of triglycerides, were significantly higher in breastfed infants compared to formula-fed infants (p < 0.05). Our findings indicate that infants in Iran who are exclusively breastfed may receive inadequate amounts of vitamin D, falling below the minimum recommended intake as well as the recommended dietary intake, resulting in an increased susceptibility to vitamin D deficiency, insufficient bone mineralization, and conditions such as rickets. Conversely, infants fed with formula milk exhibited higher serum vitamin D levels than their breastfed counterparts. Moreover, our study highlights the differential serum levels of lipid profile observed between infants consuming infant formula and those consuming breast milk.