Low socioeconomic status predicts vitamin D status in a cross-section of Irish children

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Endocrinology
• Public Health Nutrition
• Skeletal Development

Background:

• Vitamin D is vital for bone and muscle health, with childhood sufficiency critical for skeletal development.
• Low vitamin D status in children can lead to impaired growth and increased risk of bone diseases.
• Understanding vitamin D status predictors in pediatric populations is essential for targeted public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate vitamin D status in a sample of Irish children aged 1-17 years.
• To identify key predictors of vitamin D deficiency, including age, sex, season, and socioeconomic status (SES).
• To inform public health strategies for improving vitamin D levels in children.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels from 1226 Irish children (aged 1-17 years).
• Data collected between 2014-2020 from a Dublin hospital, with GP-requested testing.
• Statistical examination of predictors: age, sex, season, and socioeconomic status (SES).

Main Results:

• Vitamin D deficiency (<30 nmol/l) was prevalent, affecting 23% of children.
• Deficiency was significantly higher in children from disadvantaged areas (34%) and those over 12 years old (24%).
• Socioeconomic status was the strongest predictor (OR 2.18), followed by female sex (OR 1.57) and winter season (OR 1.40).

Conclusions:

• A significant proportion of Irish children exhibit vitamin D deficiency, particularly those in disadvantaged socioeconomic groups and adolescent females.
• Socioeconomic status, female sex, and winter season are key predictors of low vitamin D status in this pediatric cohort.
• Public health initiatives, potentially including food fortification, should be considered to address widespread vitamin D deficiency in Irish children.