Should We Assess Vitamin D Status in Pediatric Patients With Celiac Disease?

Screening for vitamin D status in celiac disease (CD) has been recommended but the literature provides varying support. We sought to assess the vitamin D status in newly diagnosed children with CD and in a non-CD control population and relate them to vitamin D intake.

In a cross-sectional study, serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) levels were drawn in children with newly diagnosed CD and compared with pediatric outpatients with functional abdominal complaints. Anthropometric data as well as vitamin D intake based on milk and multivitamin ingestion were collected.

Thirty-eight newly diagnosed CD patients (10.4 ± 3.0 years old; 50% girls) and 82 controls (11.2 ± 4.2 years old; 58.5% girls) were studied. Both groups were similar except for average daily D intake and BMI. There was no statistical difference in mean 25-OHD levels between CD (26.4 ± 8.0 ng/mL) and controls (23.5 ± 8.2 ng/mL) [P ≤ 0.07]. Both groups had high percentages of suboptimal D status (65.8% CD and 79.3% controls). 25-OHD levels significantly correlated with age (r = -0.262; P < 0.0038) and estimated vitamin D intake (r = 0.361; P < 0.0001).

No significant difference in 25-OHD levels was noted between newly diagnosed CD and controls, but inadequate 25-OHD levels were common in both. 25-OHD levels were highly associated with vitamin D intake demonstrating similar vitamin D absorption between patients and controls. As CD is associated with bone disease and D status is frequently low, efforts at optimizing D, such as screening levels at diagnosis need to be conducted.