Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 8, 2025

Scanning Skeletal Remains for Bone Mineral Density in Forensic Contexts
Published on: January 29, 2018
Vitamin D status in pubertal children
Zehra E Önal1, Abdülkadir Tekin2, Tamay Gürbüz2
1Department of Pediatrics, Haydarpasa Numune Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey - zehraesraonal@gmail.com.
Background:
Optimal vitamin D status has a great importance in puberty, which is a period of peak bone mineral acquisition. In this study, we aimed to assess the effect of pubertal period on vitamin D status.
Methods:
The study included totally 200 healthy children, aged between 4 and 14 years. Group 1 included 100 prepubertal, children, aged between 4 and 8 years. Group 2 included 100 pubertal children, aged between 9 and 14 years. They had no chronic illnesses. Ages, heights, weights, genders, Body Mass Indexes (BMIs), socioeconomic and educational status of families were established. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels were measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) was evaluated using an immunoradiometric assay kit. Serum calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels were measured.
Results:
We determined that 25(OH)D levels were lower with higher PTH levels in the group aged 9 to 14 years (pubertal children), compared to the group aged 4 to 8 (prepubertal children). Gender, weight, height or BMI, family socioeconomic and education status did not affect serum 25(OH)D levels of children in each group.
Conclusions:
We demonstrated that vitamin D deficiency was more commonly seen in the pubertal children, compared to pre pubertal period. Children should be supported with vitamin D supplements during the puberty, which has a great importance for rapid increase in bone mass.
More Related Videos
10:46A Method of Trigonometric Modelling of Seasonal Variation Demonstrated with Multiple Sclerosis Relapse Data
Published on: December 9, 2015
06:47Isolation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Human Alveolar Periosteum and Effects of Vitamin D on Osteogenic Activity of Periosteum-derived Cells
Published on: May 4, 2018
Related Concept Videos
Role of Skin in Vitamin D Synthesis
The solar UV B rays (290-315 nm) are absorbed by the skin, and 7-dehydrocholesterol (provitamin D3) photolyzes it to previtamin D3, which undergoes a rapid transformation to vitamin...
Signs of Puberty
Role of Vitamins in Maintaining Bone Health
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is involved in the process of bone remodeling. Retinoic acid, the active metabolite of Vitamin A, has nuclear receptors in osteoblasts and osteoclasts, which are involved in bone remodeling.
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 acts as a cofactor during the formation of osteoblast-related proteins, such as osteocalcin. Vitamin B12 plays a role...
Hormones and Bone Tissue
Hormones That Influence Osteoblasts and/or Maintain the Matrix
Several hormones are necessary for controlling bone growth and maintaining the bone matrix. The pituitary gland secretes growth hormone (GH), which, as its name implies, controls bone growth. This happens in several ways: first, it triggers chondrocyte...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption
Connective Tissue Cell Types
Fat cells (adipocytes), smooth muscle cells (myoblasts), and bone cells (osteoblasts) are some connective tissue cell types. Some immune system cells...