Low Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D Level Does Not Adversely Affect Bone Turnover in Prepubertal Children

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Endocrinology
• Bone Metabolism
• Nutritional Science

Background:

• Vitamin D and IGF-1 are crucial for bone health during childhood.
• Understanding their interaction is key to assessing bone accrual in prepubertal children.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and bone turnover markers.
• To examine the interplay of 25(OH)D and IGF-1 in relation to bone turnover in children.

Main Methods:

• Serum levels of 25(OH)D, IGF-1, P1NP, and CTX-1 were measured in 128 healthy children (9-11 years).
• The bone turnover index (BTI) was calculated.
• Participants were stratified based on 25(OH)D levels.

Main Results:

• 30.5% of children had low 25(OH)D (<20 ng/mL).
• Low 25(OH)D showed a trend towards higher P1NP and IGF-1, with the highest P1NP in the lowest 25(OH)D tertile.
• 25(OH)D negatively correlated with IGF-1, while IGF-1 positively correlated with P1NP and BTI.

Conclusions:

• Low serum 25(OH)D levels do not appear to adversely affect bone turnover in children.
• Serum 25(OH)D may not be a sufficient predictor of bone turnover in pediatric populations.