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Erschienen in:
10.07.2023 | RESEARCH
Evaluation of vitamin D levels and affecting factors of vitamin D deficiency in healthy children 0–18 years old
Erschienen in: European Journal of Pediatrics | Ausgabe 9/2023
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The frequency of vitamin D deficiency in healthy children is relatively high. Moreover, vitamin D supplementation in children is under the requested levels. The aim of this study is to determine the frequency of vitamin D deficiency and the factors that influence vitamin D levels in healthy children. During the study period, 3368 vitamin D levels of healthy children, aged 0–18 years, were evaluated retrospectively. Vitamin D levels were categorized as deficiency (< 12 ng/ml), insufficiency (12–20 ng/ml), and sufficiency (> 20 ng/ml). The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency was found to be 18–24.9% in healthy children, respectively. It was found that the frequency of vitamin D deficiency increased with age. In addition, the most severe and highest risk group for vitamin D deficiency were adolescent girls. Moreover, being in the winter or spring season and living in the north of the 40th parallel are the other risk factors for vitamin D deficiency.
Conclusion: This study showed that vitamin D deficiency still remains a major problem for healthy children and daily supplementation of vitamin D is mandatory. Prophylactic vitamin D supplementation and adequate sunlight exposure should be provided for all children, in particular healthy adolescents. In addition, future studies may focus on screening for vitamin D status in children who did not receive vitamin D supplementation.
What is Known:
• Vitamin D is an essential component in bone metabolism. Seasonality, age, sex, dark skin pigmentation, and limited exposure to sunlight are causes of vitamin D deficiency.
• The World Health Organization has drawn attention to this increased frequency, recommending lifelong, regular vitamin D prophylaxis.
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What is New:
• The frequency of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency was found to be 42.9% in healthy children and the frequency significantly increased with age.
• There were almost no cases of prophylactic vitamin D usage in adolescent group which are at the highest risk.
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