Observational studyBMC primary care2026
Prescription of vitamin D in neonates and infants under one year of age in Spain: an eight-year observational study.
Observational study in BMC primary care, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
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Who cites it
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Authors and funding
8 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundVitamin D is essential for bone health and immune function, particularly in early life. While its supplementation is widely recommended during infancy, data on prescribing patterns in the pediatric population—especially in a primary health care setting—are limited, particularly in Spain.
objectiveTo determine the prevalence and characteristics of vitamin D prescriptions in infants under one year of age in Spain, and to identify potential safety concerns related to off-label use and excipients.
methodsWe conducted a cross-sectional, observational study using prescription data from January 2013 to December 2020. All prescriptions of medications containing vitamin D (cholecalciferol or calcifediol) for infants aged < 1 year in primary health care were analyzed. Variables included were pharmaceutical form, dosage regimen, age indication, prescription requirement, and the presence of mandatory-declaration excipients.
resultsA total of 4,829,158 prescriptions were recorded. Cholecalciferol was the most frequently prescribed active ingredient (96.43%). Considering all vitamin D medications, oral solution was the predominant pharmaceutical form (99.43%), and daily administration was the most common dosing regimen (96.51%). Off-label prescriptions accounted for 4.03% of the total, often involving adult-only formulations or pharmaceutical forms unsuitable for infants, such as tablets/capsules and orodispersible tablets. Several medications included excipients with known pediatric safety concerns, such as ethanol, sorbitol, aspartame, and sucrose.
conclusionThis large long-term study provides critical insight into vitamin D prescribing practices in primary care for infants in Spain. While most prescriptions aligned with pediatric recommendations, the presence of off-label use and potentially harmful excipients highlights the need for improved regulatory oversight and prescriber awareness.
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