Vitamin D status of gastrostomy-fed children with special needs: a cross-sectional pilot study

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Nutrition
• Endocrinology
• Public Health

Background:

• Vitamin D is crucial for bone health and immune function.
• Children with special needs often have unique nutritional requirements.
• Gastrostomy feeding is common in children requiring long-term nutritional support.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the vitamin D status of children receiving enteral nutrition via gastrostomy.
• To determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency in this cohort.
• To assess the adequacy of vitamin D intake from commercially prepared gastrostomy feeds.

Main Methods:

• Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) levels were measured in 32 children (aged 5-16 years) fed via gastrostomy.
• Participants were recruited from special schools in Manchester, UK, during winter.
• Vitamin D sufficiency was defined as >50 nmol/L, and deficiency as <25 nmol/L.

Main Results:

• 83% of children demonstrated sufficient vitamin D levels (>50 nmol/L).
• Only one child was vitamin D deficient (<25 nmol/L), and four were insufficient (25-50 nmol/L).
• Median vitamin D intake from feeds was 9.45 μg/day, with 41% receiving less than the recommended 10 μg/day.

Conclusions:

• Commercially prepared gastrostomy feeds appear to adequately support vitamin D status in most children with special needs.
• Despite suboptimal intake from feeds, the majority achieved sufficient vitamin D levels.
• The study supports the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) recommendation of 10 μg (400 IU) daily vitamin D intake for children over one year.