Is There Any Relationship between Vitamin D Deficiency and Gross Motor Development in 12-Month-Old Children?

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Developmental Biology
• Nutritional Science

Background:

• Gross motor development is crucial for a child's overall well-being.
• Vitamin D plays a vital role in bone health and muscle function.
• Understanding the link between vitamin D and motor milestones can inform early interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between vitamin D levels and gross motor developmental milestones in one-year-old Iranian children.
• To determine if vitamin D deficiency impacts the achievement of key motor skills such as sitting, standing, and walking.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 186 healthy one-year-old children in Tehran, Iran.
• Assessment of gross motor developmental milestones and serum vitamin D concentrations.
• Statistical analysis to identify correlations between vitamin D status and motor development.

Main Results:

• Vitamin D sufficiency was observed in 79.6% of children, while 17.2% were insufficient and 3.2% were deficient.
• A significant positive correlation was found between sufficient vitamin D levels and the ability to walk (P<0.001, OR=3.9).
• Children with sufficient vitamin D were more likely to achieve advanced motor milestones.

Conclusions:

• Vitamin D deficiency is significantly associated with delayed gross motor development in young Iranian children.
• Children presenting with gross motor developmental delays should be screened for vitamin D deficiency.
• This highlights the importance of adequate vitamin D intake for optimal child development.