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Is vitamin D status known among children living in Northern Italy?

Giuseppina Marrone1, Ilaria Rosso, Raffaella Moretti

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Udine Hospital, Piazzale S. Maria della Misericordia 15, Udine, Italy. pinamarrone@yahoo.it

European Journal of Nutrition
|May 5, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent in children in northeastern Italy, with over half showing insufficient levels. Risk factors include winter, non-Caucasian ethnicity, and obesity, highlighting the need for targeted screening and education.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Nutritional Science
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Vitamin D is crucial for bone health and immune function in children.
  • Low vitamin D levels are a growing global concern, particularly in certain populations.
  • Geographic location and lifestyle factors can significantly impact vitamin D status.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in children aged 2-220 months in northeastern Italy.
  • To identify risk factors associated with vitamin D deficiency in this pediatric cohort.
  • To inform public health strategies for improving vitamin D status in at-risk children.

Main Methods:

  • Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) levels were measured in 93 children attending a pediatric clinic in Udine.
  • Vitamin D status was categorized using established clinical definitions (severe deficiency, deficiency, insufficiency, sufficiency).
  • Potential risk factors including age, ethnicity, season of blood draw, and obesity were investigated.

Main Results:

  • A significant proportion of children (54.8%) exhibited insufficient or deficient vitamin D levels (25OHD < 50 nmol/l).
  • Non-Caucasian children (75% insufficient) and obese children (90% deficient) showed significantly higher risks of vitamin D deficiency.
  • Blood samples drawn during winter months (November-May) were associated with a higher prevalence of insufficient vitamin D (70.5%).

Conclusions:

  • Vitamin D deficiency is a common health issue among children in northeastern Italy.
  • Winter season, non-Caucasian ethnicity, and obesity are identified as key risk factors for vitamin D deficiency.
  • Targeted screening and public health interventions focusing on sunlight exposure are recommended for high-risk pediatric groups.
Abstract

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