1.
Natural sunlight plus vitamin D supplementation ameliorate delayed early motor development in newborn infants from maternal perinatal depression.
Zhang, H, Liu, S, Si, Y, Zhang, S, Tian, Y, Liu, Y, Li, H, Zhu, Z
Journal of affective disorders. 2019;:241-249
Abstract
BACKGROUND Increased cortisol has been shown to be negatively correlated with infant motor development. Sunlight help decrease the level of cortisol. Vitamin D is associated with infant motor development. The present study aimed to determine whether natural sunlight exposure plus vitamin D supplements could ameliorate delayed early motor development in little infants from maternal perinatal depression. METHODS The term pregnant women waiting for delivery from the department of gynecology and obstetrics were assessed depressive symptoms by Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD). 120 normal and 229 depressed subjects were recruited. During 2 days postpartum, infant motor development were assessed by Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS). Infants of 2-day-old in maternal depression group were divided into four groups: control group, conventional vitamin D supplements (400IU/d) group, high dose of vitamin D supplements group (1000IU/d), sunlight plus conventional vitamin D supplement group (400IU/d). Serum and hair cortisol (HairF) in mothers and infants were measured. RESULTS The infants of perinatal depressed mothers displayed early motor developmental delay accompanied by increased cortisol. Sunlight plus conventional vitamin D supplement (400IU/d) were better than exclusive vitamin D supplements for the amelioration delayed early motor development in infants (p < 0.05). The infants exposure to sunlight 7-14 h/week plus conventional vitamin D supplement reached the best scores of motor development and the lowest HairF (p < 0.05). LIMITATIONS We should have measured the serum 25OH-vitamin D concentrations. CONCLUSIONS Sunlight plus vitamin D supplements could ameliorate delayed early motor development in little infants by decreasing cortisol from perinatal depression.
2.
Fasting serum CGRP levels are related to calcium concentrations, but cannot be elevated by short-term calcium/vitamin D supplementation.
Hu, F, Chen, L, Che, H, Fang, J, Lv, F, Li, H, Zhang, S, Guo, C, Yin, H, Zhang, S, et al
Neuropeptides. 2015;:37-45
Abstract
Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is an important cardioprotective neuropeptide. Few studies have shown that calcium supplementation may increase CGRP levels transiently. However, the relationship between CGRP and calcium is poorly known. This study was to explore the correlation between serum calcium and CGRP in coronary artery disease (CAD), and observe whether short-term calcium/vitamin D supplementation would increase fasting serum CGRP. A randomized, placebo-controlled and double-blind clinical trial, and a supplementary study for further analysis of the correlations were conducted. The results showed that the correlation between serum calcium and CGRP was positive in CAD without myocardial infarction (MI) (r = 0.487, P = 0.029), but negative in acute and healing MI (r = -0.382, P = 0.003). Moreover, we found a positive correlation between lg (amino-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, NT-proBNP) and CGRP (r = 0.312, P = 0.027), but a negative correlation between lg (NT-proBNP) and serum calcium (r = -0.316, P = 0.025) in acute and healing MI. As to the clinical trial, participants subjected to CAD but without evolving or acute MI, together with blood calcium ≤ 2.4 mmol/L, were randomized into three groups. Among the groups of placebo, caltrate (600 mg elemental calcium; 125 IU vitamin D3, per tablet) 1 tablet/d and caltrate 2 tablets/d, there were no significant differences in baseline characteristics. After short-term (5 days) treatments, the results indicated that the effect of grouping was not statistically significant (P = 0.915). In conclusion, the correlations between serum calcium and CGRP in different types of CAD are inconsistent, and the main reason may be associated with elevated natriuretic peptides after acute MI. Further, our study shows that short-term calcium/vitamin D supplementation cannot significantly increase fasting serum CGRP levels.