Hypothesis Low vitamin D ==> low bone and muscle strength ==> flat head
News item: Study published in Pediatrics
Low Vitamin is associated with each of the following items
- More frequent flat heads with preemies
- More frequent flat heads with twins
- More frequent flat heads with infants with dark skins
- More frequent flat heads with infants with weak necks (muscles)
If vitamin D is indeed a factor, there will be an increased frequency with
- Latitude or countries with low vitamin D
- Spring births
- Urban births
- Closely spaced births
- Infants who are breastfed (without vitamin D supplements)
Prevalence, risk factors, and natural history of positional plagiocephaly: a systematic review 2008;
PDF is attached at the bottom of this page
See also web
- Nearly half of babies have flat spots, study finds NBC News July 2013
They looked at 440 babies aged 7 to 12 weeks in 4 clinics in Calgary.
‘’We found that 46.6 percent actually had some form of plagiocephaly,’’ - 47% of babies studied have flat spots on heads Detroit Free Press, July 2013
‘’ Of the 205 infants in the study observed to have some form of plagiocephaly, 78% were classified as having a mild form, 19% moderate; 3% severe.’’ - The 'Epidemic' of Deformational Plagiocephaly and the American Academy of Pediatrics' Response 2004; American Academy of Othootits and Prosthetists
‘’ One study demonstrated that 39% of children with persistent deformational plagiocephaly received special educational services versus 7.7% of their siblings (controls)’’ - Positional Plagiocephaly American Association of Neurological Surgeons, updated Sept 2010
‘’ A small number of infants have positional plagiocephaly at birth. This is more common in multiple or premature births, but can also be caused by position in the womb.’’
‘’ In 1992 the American Academy of Pediatrics made the recommendation that infants should sleep on their backs to reduce the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), which launched the "Back to Sleep Campaign". Due to SIDS awareness through the Back to Sleep Campaign, the number of SIDS cases has decreased, but there has been a dramatic increase in the number of infants with positional plagiocephaly.’’ - home page for Aliyah Mawji – author of the study
- Expensive helmets do not correct skull flattening in babies BMJ update May 2014, in Medscape
Random controlled trial:a 2 years 26% recovered if wore helmet, vs 22% if not wear helmet
See also Vitamin D Life
- 75 percent of unexplained sudden infant deaths had inadequate level of vitamin D – April 2013
- Breastfed Infants in Iowa got very little vitamin D, especially if winter or dark skin – July 2013
- Child bone conference: many vitamin D and ricket abstracts – June 2013
- Preemies have increased need for vitamin D and Calcium (Rickets)– May 2013
- Breastfed infants: 90 percent had less than 20 ng of vitamin D, formula-fed: 15 percent – May 2013