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[VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY AMONG CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH NORMAL NUTRITIONAL STATUS]
Teodoro Durá-Travé1, Fidel Gallinas-Victoriano2, María Jesús Chueca Guindulain3
1Departamento de Pediatría, Facultad de Medicina. Universidad de Navarra. Unidad de Endocrinología Pediátrica. Complejo Hospitalario de Navarra. Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdisNA), España.. tduratra@cfnavarra.es.
Insights
Pediatric vitamin D deficiency is common, especially in spring and winter, even in well-nourished children. Supplementation or dietary changes are recommended to improve vitamin D levels.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Nutritional Science
- Public Health
Background:
- Vitamin D is crucial for bone health and immune function in children.
- Nutritional status significantly influences vitamin D levels.
- Seasonal variations in vitamin D status are observed in pediatric populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in a pediatric cohort with normal nutrition.
- To analyze seasonal variations in vitamin D levels and parathyroid hormone (PTH) throughout a calendar year.
- To investigate the relationship between vitamin D status, PTH, and body mass index (BMI).
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 413 Caucasian children and adolescents (aged 3.1–15.4 years) with normal nutrition.
- Analysis of serum calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, calcidiol (25(OH)D), and PTH levels.
- Vitamin D deficiency defined using United States Endocrine Society guidelines.
Main Results:
- Vitamin D deficiency prevalence varied seasonally, reaching 75.3% in spring and 14.3% in summer.
- Calcidiol levels peaked in summer (35.33 ± 7.51 ng/ml) and were lowest in spring (25.96 ± 6.64 ng/ml).
- PTH levels showed an inverse correlation with calcidiol and peaked in autumn.
Conclusions:
- A significant proportion of well-nourished children experience vitamin D deficiency, particularly during autumn, winter, and spring.
- The findings suggest a need for vitamin D supplementation or increased dietary intake in pediatric populations.
- Seasonal monitoring and intervention strategies may be necessary to maintain adequate vitamin D levels in children.
Objective:
to analyze the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency throughout a natural year in a pediatric population with normal nutrition status.
Material And Methods:
cross sectional clinical and analytical study (calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, calcidiol and parathyroid hormone) in 413 caucasian individuals (aged 3.1 to 15.4 years): 227 school children (96 males and 131 females) and 186 adolescents (94 males and 92 females), all of them in a normal nutrition status, during the year 2014. Vitamin D deficiency was defined according to the United States Endocrine Society guidelines.
Results:
calcidiol levels were lower during spring (25.96 ± 6.64 ng/ml) and reached its maximum level in summer (35.33 ± 7.51 ng/ml); PTH levels were lower in summer (27.13 ± 7.89 pg/ml) and reached maximum level in autumn (34.73 ± 15.38 pg/ml). Vitamin D deficiency prevalence was 14.3% in summer and 75.3% in spring. PTH levels were compatible with secondary hyperparathyroidism in 8 individuals (1.9%). There was a negative correlation between calcidol and PTH levels (p < 0.01). There was not a correlation between body mass index (BMI) and calcidiol.
Conclusion:
the pediatric population in normal nutrition status shows a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency during the months of autumn and winter and, especially, in spring; the addition of vitamin supplements and/ or an increase in the ingestion of their natural dietary sources should be considered.
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