Vitamin D status in children with Down's syndrome

The serum levels of the active Vitamin D metabolites 25-hydroxyvitamin D[25(OH)D], 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D[1,25(OH)2D] and 24,25 dihydroxyvitamin D [24,25(OH)2D], were studied in 21 children with Down's syndrome (DS) in Cantabria, a northern region of Spain, located at 44 degrees N latitude. Serum calcium, magnesium, phosphate, alkaline phosphatase, parathormone and osteocalcine were also determined. In the DS group, the average values of the three Vitamin D metabolites were comparable to those of an age-matched group both in winter and summer times. No child with DS showed values below the normal range, either in Vitamin D metabolites, or in the other parameters of calcium metabolism. The normal increment of 25(OH)D and 24,25(OH)2 values from March to October was not observed in five children. This anomaly was corrected in three, after adequate rules of sun exposure during summer time were followed. In the other two, the 25(OH)D levels were high throughout the study. This investigation shows that children with DS do not require Vitamin D prescription when appropriate periods of sunlight exposure are provided.