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Relationships between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and quantitative ultrasound bone mineral density in 0-6 year old
Xiaodan Yu1, Jun Zhang, Chonghui Yan
1MOE-Shanghai Key Lab of Children's Environmental Health, XinHua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China. shahd1230@yahoo.com.cn
Insights
Low vitamin D levels are linked to lower bone density in young children. A threshold of 20 ng/ml for serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D may indicate deficiency, impacting bone mineral density in children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Nutritional Science
- Bone Health
Background:
- The relationship between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and bone mineral density in young children is not well-established.
- Consensus on the definition of vitamin D deficiency in pediatric populations is lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and quantitative ultrasound bone mineral density in children aged 0-6 years.
- To explore a potential threshold for defining vitamin D deficiency based on bone mineral density outcomes.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 203 children (0-6 years) in Shanghai, China.
- Measurements included serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D, weight, length, and quantitative ultrasound bone mineral density (BMD) of the left mid-tibia.
- Low BMD was defined as <20th percentile for age and sex; low 25(OH)D was defined as <20 ng/ml.
Main Results:
- The median serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level was 19.0 ng/ml, with 58.6% of children below 20 ng/ml.
- Adjusted analysis revealed a significant positive linear association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and BMD (ß=323.3, p<0.001).
- Low 25-hydroxyvitamin D (<20 ng/ml) was associated with a significantly higher risk of low BMD (OR=5.5, p<0.05), with a prevalence of 47.1% compared to 16.7% in those with sufficient levels.
Conclusions:
- Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D is positively associated with bone mineral density in young children.
- A serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D threshold of 20 ng/ml appears relevant for identifying children at risk of low bone mineral density.
- Quantitative ultrasound BMD may serve as an indicator of vitamin D status in pediatric populations.
Abstract:
The relationship between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and quantitative ultrasound bone mineral density in young children remains unclear. In addition, consensus has not been reached with regard to the concentration of 25(OH)D to define vitamin D deficiency for infants and children. In the present study, 203 children 0-6 years old were recruited in Shanghai, China. The concentrations of serum 25(OH)D, weight, length, and quantitative ultrasound bone mineral density (BMD) of left mid-tibia were determined. Low BMD was defined as <20th percentile of given age and sex. Low 25(OH)D was defined as 25(OH)D<20 ng/ml. The results showed that median serum 25(OH)D level was 19.0 ng/ml, and 58.6% had a serum 25(OH)D below 20 ng/ml. After adjusting for potential confounders, a linear relationship between serum 25(OH)D and BMD was observed. Serum 25(OH)D was positively associated with BMD (ß=323.3, 95% CI=201.0-445.7, p<0.001), and low 25(OH)D (<20 ng/ml) had a high risk for low BMD (OR=5.5, 95% CI=2.5-12). In addition, there is a nonlinear relationship between 25(OH)D and low BMD, and a threshold for 25(OH)D of 20 ng/ml existed for low BMD. The prevalence of low BMD was 47.1% in the group of 25(OH)D<20 ng/ml, much higher than 16.7% in the group of 25(OH)D ≥ 20 ng/ml (p<0.05). The results suggested that quantitative ultrasound BMD could be an indicator for vitamin D status in young children, and also provided further evidence to define vitamin D deficiency for infants and children.
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