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Vitamin D levels in children with cerebral palsy
Nurdan Paker1, Tugce Yavuz Mollavelioglu2, Derya Bugdaycı1
1University of Health Sciences Istanbul PMR Training Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Insights
Nearly half of children with cerebral palsy (CP) have low vitamin D levels. Older age and regular diets are significant risk factors for vitamin D deficiency in these children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Nutritional Science
- Neurology
Background:
- Cerebral palsy (CP) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder affecting motor function.
- Vitamin D plays a crucial role in bone health and overall well-being.
- Assessing vitamin D status in children with CP is important for management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate serum vitamin D levels in children diagnosed with cerebral palsy.
- To identify factors associated with vitamin D status in this population.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 119 children (1-10 years) with CP was studied.
- Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) levels were measured.
- Factors including age, gender, CP type, GMFCS level, diet, and medication were analyzed.
Main Results:
- 42.9% of children with CP exhibited low vitamin D levels (deficiency or insufficiency).
- Older age (mean 6.4 years vs. 3.8 years) and regular diets were significantly associated with lower vitamin D.
- No significant correlation was found with gender, GMFCS, CP type, season, or antiepileptic drug use.
Conclusions:
- A significant proportion of children with CP are vitamin D deficient or insufficient.
- Older children and those on regular diets represent higher-risk groups for low vitamin D.
- These findings highlight the need for monitoring and potential supplementation in at-risk children with CP.
Purpose:
The aim of this study was to assess serum vitamin D levels and related factors in children with cerebral palsy (CP).
Methods:
One hundred and nineteen children with CP between the ages of 1 year to 10 years 9 months who were admitted to the children's inpatient rehabilitation unit of a tertiary rehabilitation hospital between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2018, were included in this study. Demographic and clinical characteristics were obtained from the patient files. CP types and serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) levels were recorded. Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) was used to assess the functional level.
Results:
Mean age was 5.1±2.9 years. Forty-two (35.3%) were girls, 105 (88.3%) were spastic, and 14 (11.7%) were ataxic and mixed type CP. Mean GMFCS level was 4 (IQR:2). Thirty-one (26.1%) were getting extra liquid feed while the rest were eating a normal diet. Mean serum 25OHD level was 27.4±15.7 (3-79) ng/mL. Vitamin D levels were normal in 68 children (57.1%), whereas 36 (30.3%) had vitamin D insufficiency and 15 (12.6%) showed vitamin D deficiency. Those whose serum vitamin D levels were within a normal range had a median age of 3.8 (IQR:4.2) years. On the other hand, mean age was 6.4 (4.3) years for those with low vitamin D level (p < 0.0001). Vitamin D level was 19.8 (21.4) ng/mL in those (n = 88) who had regular diets, whereas it was 31.0 [16] ng/mL in those (n = 31) who were getting extra liquid feed (p = 0.015). There was no statistically significant correlation between vitamin D level and gender, GMFCS, CP type, season or antiepileptic drug treatment. A binary logistic regression model showed that older age and having only regular meals were significant risk factors for low vitamin D.
Conclusion:
In this study, 42.9% of the children with CP had low vitamin D. Older children with CP or those who had regular diets were higher risk groups in terms of low vitamin D.
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