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Vitamin D levels in children with recurrent tonsillitis

Salih Aydın1, Ismet Aslan, Ismail Yıldız

  • 1Department of Otolaryngology, Istanbul University, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Istanbul, Turkey. drsalihaydin@gmail.com

International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology
|January 11, 2011
PubMed

Insights

This study found no significant difference in serum vitamin D levels or vitamin D receptor gene polymorphism between children with recurrent tonsillitis and healthy children. However, vitamin D insufficiency was more common in children with recurrent tonsillitis.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric immunology
  • Nutritional science
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Recurrent tonsillitis etiology is not fully understood, with potential links to immune system defects.
  • Vitamin D plays a crucial role in immune function.
  • Vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms may influence susceptibility to infections.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate serum vitamin D levels in children with recurrent tonsillitis.
  • To examine vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms (Apa1, Taq 1, Fok1) in these children.
  • To compare these findings with a control group of healthy children.

Main Methods:

  • Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were measured using ELISA in 106 children with recurrent tonsillitis and 127 healthy controls (ages 2-12).
  • Vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms (Apa1, Taq 1, Fok1) were determined by PCR.
  • Vitamin D insufficiency was defined as serum levels below 80 nmol/L.

Main Results:

  • Average serum vitamin D levels were similar between the recurrent tonsillitis group (176±79 nmol/L) and the control group (193±56 nmol/L) (p=0.13).
  • No significant differences were observed in vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms between the two groups.
  • Vitamin D insufficiency was present in 18% of children with recurrent tonsillitis.

Conclusions:

  • Serum vitamin D levels and vitamin D receptor gene polymorphism do not differ significantly between children with recurrent tonsillitis and healthy children.
  • Vitamin D insufficiency is more prevalent in children experiencing recurrent tonsillitis.
  • Further research may explore other factors contributing to recurrent tonsillitis.
Abstract

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