Is there an association between vitamin D deficiency and adenotonsillar hypertrophy in children with sleep-disordered

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Ji-Hyeon Shin1, Byung-Guk Kim2, Boo Young Kim2

  • 1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 222 Banpo-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul, 06591, Republic of Korea. tachyon0217@gmail.com.

BMC Pediatrics
|June 21, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Low vitamin D levels are associated with adenotonsillar hypertrophy (ATH) in children. This study suggests measuring vitamin D in children with ATH and sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) symptoms.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Sleep Medicine
  • Endocrinology
  • Otolaryngology

Background:

  • Low vitamin D levels are a potential risk factor for sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in children.
  • Adenotonsillar hypertrophy (ATH) is a primary cause of childhood SDB, but its link to vitamin D is unclear.
  • This study investigates the relationship between vitamin D status and ATH in pediatric patients.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the association between serum vitamin D levels and adenotonsillar hypertrophy (ATH) in children.
  • To identify factors associated with vitamin D levels in children with ATH.
  • To determine if vitamin D deficiency is more prevalent in children with ATH.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective chart review of 88 children with SDB symptoms and measured serum 25-hydroxy-vitamin D [25(OH)D] levels.
  • Children were grouped based on the presence and severity of adenoidal and/or tonsillar hypertrophy (ATH).
  • Data analyzed included demographic information, tonsil and adenoid size, BMI, and allergen sensitization.

Main Results:

  • Children with ATH had significantly lower mean 25(OH)D levels compared to controls.
  • Vitamin D deficiency was more frequent in children with ATH than in those with sufficient vitamin D.
  • Serum 25(OH)D levels showed inverse correlations with age, tonsil/adenoid size, and height, and were associated with tonsil/adenoid size and BMI-z score.

Conclusions:

  • Low serum vitamin D levels are linked to adenotonsillar hypertrophy (ATH) in children.
  • Tonsil and adenoid size, along with BMI-z score, are associated with vitamin D levels in this population.
  • Measuring serum 25(OH)D is recommended for children presenting with ATH and SDB symptoms.
Abstract

Keywords:
AdenoidsBody mass indexChildSleep-disordered breathingTonsilsVitamin D

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