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Vitamin D Status in a Population of Well Children: Amasya Sample
Gökce Celep1, Zeynep Hülya Durmaz2, Aysu Duyan Çamurdan3
1Amasya University Medical Faculty, Sabuncuoğlu Şerefeddin Education and Research Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Amasya, Turkey.
Insights
Most children in northern Turkey have insufficient vitamin D levels. This study highlights the need for vitamin D supplementation and increased sun exposure in children to maintain bone health and immune function.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Endocrinology
- Public Health
Background:
- Vitamin D is crucial for musculoskeletal health, immune modulation, cardiovascular protection, and metabolic homeostasis.
- Adequate vitamin D levels are essential for overall child well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the vitamin D status of children aged 1-17 years residing in Amasya, northern Turkey.
- To identify factors influencing vitamin D levels, including age, gender, and season.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 2551 healthy children's data from hospital records.
- Classification of vitamin D status based on the 2015 Endocrine Society global consensus statement.
- Data categorized by age groups, gender, and season of 25(OH)D measurement.
Main Results:
- Only 39% of children achieved sufficient vitamin D levels (>50 nmol/l).
- Vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency were more prevalent in females, particularly during winter.
- The prevalence of poor vitamin D status increased with age.
Conclusions:
- A high incidence of inadequate vitamin D status was observed in healthy children in this region.
- The findings underscore the need for vitamin D supplementation strategies.
- Promoting lifelong habits for adequate sun exposure is recommended to maintain optimal vitamin D levels.
Objective:
The aim of this study was to determine the vitamin D status of children living in Amasya, a city in northern Turkey. Vitamin D is an essential hormone for the health of the musculoskeletal system and acts as a modulator for the immune system, a protector of the cardiovascular system and a regulator of metabolic homeostasis.
Methods:
A total of 2551 healthy individuals aged 1 to17 years enrolled in this study. They were divided into 4 groups, according to their ages. Vitamin D status was classified based on the 2015 global consensus statement from the Endocrine Society. The data were collected from the hospital record system, retrospectively, and categorized according to age, gender, and the season in which the blood sample was taken for the measurement of 25 (OH) D levels.
Results:
Only 39% of the subjects were found to have sufficient vitamin D levels (>50 nmol/l [i.e., >20 ng/ml]), while the rest had poor vitamin D status. The insufficiency and deficiency problems were greater in females especially in winter and increasing with age.
Conclusion:
The high frequency of poor vitamin D status in otherwise healthy children indicates a necessity for supplementation and for implementing lifelong strategies that increase and maintain adequate levels of sun exposure.
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