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Effect of vitamin D on serum cholesterol and arterial blood pressure in infants
Insights
Vitamin D supplementation in children with rickets increased blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Poor response in some cases may be linked to kwashiorkor, indicating complex nutritional interactions.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Nutritional Science
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Rickets is a common condition in young children, primarily caused by vitamin D deficiency.
- Vitamin D plays a crucial role in calcium and phosphate homeostasis, impacting bone health.
- The study investigates the systemic effects of vitamin D beyond bone metabolism in pediatric patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of varying vitamin D doses on arterial blood pressure and serum cholesterol in children with rickets.
- To identify factors influencing treatment response to vitamin D in this population.
Main Methods:
- Ninety-one children diagnosed with rickets, predominantly under two years of age, were enrolled.
- Participants were allocated into four groups, each receiving a different dosage regimen of vitamin D.
- Arterial blood pressure and serum cholesterol levels were measured after one month of treatment.
Main Results:
- A significant increase in arterial blood pressure was observed across all treatment groups.
- Serum cholesterol levels also demonstrated a notable rise in most participants.
- One group exhibited a diminished response to vitamin D, irrespective of dosage.
Conclusions:
- Vitamin D supplementation appears to influence cardiovascular risk factors, including blood pressure and cholesterol, in children with rickets.
- Kwashiorkor, characterized by low serum albumin and liver abnormalities, may impede vitamin D's efficacy.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the interplay between vitamin D, nutritional status, and cardiovascular markers in pediatric rickets.
Abstract:
91 children suffering from rickets, most of them less than 2 years old, were divided into four groups and treated with different doses of vitamin D. After 1 month the arterial blood pressure and the serum cholesterol had risen in all groups and in all but one of them significantly so. It is suggested that the reason why children in one group gave a poor response to vitamin D in spite of receiving a high dose was that they had kwashiorkor with low serum albumins and abnormal livers.