Vitamin D Deficit as Inducer of Adenotonsillar Hypertrophy in Children with Obstructive Sleep Apnea-A Prospective...

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Endocrinology
• Immunology
• Sleep Medicine

Background:

• Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in children is often linked to adenotonsillar hypertrophy (ATH).
• Vitamin D plays a crucial role in immune system regulation.
• The relationship between vitamin D levels and pediatric OSA, particularly in non-allergic cases, requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare serum vitamin D levels in pediatric patients with non-allergic obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) caused by adenotonsillar hypertrophy (ATH) against healthy controls.
• To determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in this pediatric OSA cohort.

Main Methods:

• A prospective case-control study involving children with uncomplicated OSA due to ATH.
• Allergy exclusion via skin prick test (SPT) and serum IgE levels.
• Quantitative determination of plasma 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25-OHD) levels.
• Comparison of vitamin D concentrations between the patient and matched healthy control groups.

Main Results:

• Children with ATH and OSA exhibited significantly lower plasma 25-OHD levels compared to healthy controls (mean 17 ng/mL vs. 22 ng/mL, p < 0.0005).
• The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was significantly higher in the ATH group.
• Vitamin D levels did not correlate with ATH severity (Brodsky scale grades III-IV), but vitamin D status categories differed significantly between groups (p < 0.001).

Conclusions:

• Statistically significant differences in plasma vitamin D concentrations exist between pediatric OSA patients with ATH and healthy controls.
• While not directly linked to hypertrophy severity, the findings suggest a potential negative impact of vitamin D deficiency on the immune system in children with OSA and ATH.