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Prevalence and risk factors for hypovitaminosis D in young patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Helen M Pappa1, Eveline J Langereis, Richard J Grand

  • 1Center for Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Children's Hospital Boston, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Helen.pappa@childrens.harvard.edu

Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition
|May 27, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) frequently have low vitamin D levels. Higher inflammation markers, like erythrocyte sedimentation rate, increase this risk in pediatric IBD patients.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Endocrinology
  • Bone Metabolism

Background:

  • Vitamin D is crucial for maintaining bone health.
  • Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) encompasses chronic conditions affecting the gastrointestinal tract.
  • Hypovitaminosis D, or vitamin D deficiency, is a growing concern in pediatric populations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in children diagnosed with IBD.
  • To identify specific risk factors contributing to low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) concentrations in this group.
  • To compare risk factors in IBD patients with those in the general pediatric population.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional study design.
  • Analysis of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) levels in pediatric IBD patients.
  • Statistical analysis to identify correlations between 25OHD levels and clinical factors, including erythrocyte sedimentation rate.

Main Results:

  • A significant prevalence of hypovitaminosis D was observed in children with IBD.
  • Higher erythrocyte sedimentation rate was identified as an additional risk factor for low vitamin D in pediatric IBD patients.
  • Risk factors for vitamin D deficiency in IBD children largely mirrored those in healthy children.

Conclusions:

  • Both Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis patients are susceptible to hypovitaminosis D.
  • Monitoring and addressing vitamin D status is essential for pediatric IBD management.
  • Inflammation plays a key role in vitamin D deficiency in pediatric IBD.

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