Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 20, 2026
Scanning Skeletal Remains for Bone Mineral Density in Forensic Contexts
Published on: January 29, 2018
Vitamin D Insufficiency and Its Association with Biochemical and Anthropometric Variables of Young Children in Rural
Shan-Shan Geng1, Jing-Qiu Ma1, Shan-Shan Liu1
1Department of Children and Adolescents Health Care, Xin Hua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092; MOE-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research, Xin Hua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China.
Background:
With recognition of the important roles of Vitamin D (VitD) in various physiological processes, increasing attention has been drawn to the status of VitD in early life. However, the VitD status of young children and the related factors in rural areas of Southwestern China remain unclear. This study aimed to explore VitD status and its seasonal variation in 18-month-old children living in rural Southwestern China. The association of VitD with biochemical and anthropometric variables was also investigated.
Methods:
A total of 177 18-month-old children in a rural area of Yunnan Province, Southwestern China, were enrolled. Serum concentrations of 25-hydroxy Vitamin D (25(OH)D) were measured through high-performance liquid chromatogram-tandem mass spectrometry. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels were measured with a chemiluminescence assay. Serum concentrations of calcium, phosphorus, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were also measured. Anthropometric data and the outdoor activity time of each participant were collected.
Results:
The serum 25(OH)D concentration was 26.61 ± 7.26 ng/ml; concentrations lower than 30 ng/ml accounted for 70.6% of the participants and concentrations lower than 20 ng/ml accounted for 16.4%. The level of serum 25(OH)D was not significantly different among four seasons (P >0.05). A positive relationship was found between 25(OH)D concentration and the time of outdoor activities (r = 0.168, P < 0.05). Serum PTH concentration was negatively correlated with 25(OH)D concentration (r = -0.163, P < 0.05). A positive relationship was found between the serum concentrations of 25(OH)D and calcium (r = 0.154, P < 0.05). No significant association was observed between 25(OH)D and ALP, phosphorus, or anthropometric variables.
Conclusions:
The prevalence of VitD insufficiency is high among young children in the rural Southwestern China regardless of the seasons. VitD supplementation is still essential to maintain VitD sufficiency for children living in rural area.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Role of Vitamins in Maintaining Bone Health
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is involved in the process of bone remodeling. Retinoic acid, the active metabolite of Vitamin A, has nuclear receptors in osteoblasts and osteoclasts, which are involved in bone remodeling.
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 acts as a cofactor during the formation of osteoblast-related proteins, such as osteocalcin. Vitamin B12 plays a role...
01:23Role of Skin in Vitamin D Synthesis
The solar UV B rays (290-315 nm) are absorbed by the skin, and 7-dehydrocholesterol (provitamin D3) photolyzes it to previtamin D3, which undergoes a rapid transformation to vitamin...
01:29Bone Disorders
Bone deposition is also affected by the levels of sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone that promote osteoblast activity and bone matrix synthesis. When the level of these hormones decreases due to aging, it causes a reduction in bone deposition. As a result, bone resorption by osteoclasts...
01:30Vitamins
01:10Nature and Nurture
01:23Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption