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Vitamin D Status among Young Children Aged 1-3 Years: A Cross-Sectional Study in Wuxi, China
Xin Zhao1, Jianping Xiao2, Xiangpeng Liao3
1Department of Obstetrics, Wuxi Maternity and Child Health Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China; Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Wuxi Maternity and Child Health Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China.
Insights
In Wuxi, China, 16.1% of young children aged 1-3 years had vitamin D deficiency. Factors like season and age influenced vitamin D levels, suggesting a need for supplementation and outdoor activity.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Nutritional Science
- Public Health
Background:
- Vitamin D's importance is increasingly recognized, particularly for young children.
- Vitamin D status in Chinese children aged 1-3 years is understudied.
- This study addresses the gap in understanding vitamin D status in this demographic.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the nutritional vitamin D status of young children aged 1-3 years in Wuxi, southeastern China.
- To identify factors associated with vitamin D deficiency in this population.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 5,571 children aged 1-3 years was studied in Wuxi, China.
- Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels were measured from finger-stick blood samples.
- Data was collected between January 2014 and January 2015.
Main Results:
- Vitamin D deficiency (<50 nmol/L) was found in 16.1% of children.
- Sufficient (50-74.9 nmol/L) and optimal (≥75 nmol/L) vitamin D status were observed in 38.8% and 45.1% of children, respectively.
- Vitamin D deficiency was more prevalent in autumn and associated with older age.
Conclusions:
- 16.1% of young children in Wuxi exhibit vitamin D deficiency.
- Child age and season are significant factors affecting vitamin D status.
- Recommendations include vitamin D supplementation and increased outdoor activity for children.
Background:
The increasingly recognized importance of vitamin D has been discussed and vitamin D status among young children has attracted widespread attention in recent years. However, study on vitamin D status in young children aged 1-3 y is limited in China.
Objective:
To evaluate the nutritional vitamin D status of young children aged 1-3 y in Wuxi, southeastern China.
Methods:
A large cohort of 5,571 young children aged 1-3 y were recruited in this study who visited the child health clinics at the Wuxi Maternity and Child Health Hospital (latitude 31.57°N) during January 2014 to January 2015. Wuxi was located in southeastern China at a latitude of 31.57°N. Finger-stick blood sampling was conducted in all the subjects and serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels were measured to evaluate their vitamin D status.
Results:
In this study, serum 25(OH)D levels of young children at the age of 1-3 years ranged from 20.6-132.9 nmol/L (Median: 71.5 nmol/L). 16.1% of the population had vitamin D deficiency (<50 nmol/L), while 38.8% of the subjects had a sufficient (50-74.9 nmol/L) vitamin D level. An optimal vitamin D status (≥75 nmol/L) was found in 45.1% of the young children. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was higher in autumn (19.5%) than in summer (12.1%). There was no significant difference in vitamin D status between genders. The binary logistic regression analysis revealed that child age was strongly associated with vitamin D deficiency (adjusted OR: 1.173; 95%CI: 1.053-1.308; P = 0.004).
Conclusions:
The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was 16.1% among young children aged 1-3 y in Wuxi. Season and child age were associated with their vitamin D status. It is implied that young children should receive adequate amounts of vitamin D supplementation and spend more time outdoors to prolong the sunlight exposure when they grow older.
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