Nutrición Hospitalaria
ISSN 1699-5198 ISSN 0212-1611
MARTINEZ REDONDO, Inés et al. Vitamin D insufficiency in a healthy pediatric population. The importance of early prophylaxis. []. , 38, 6, pp.1155-1161. 07--2022. ISSN 1699-5198. https://dx.doi.org/10.20960/nh.03606.
Introduction:
vitamin D maintains the concentration of calcium and phosphorus within the physiological range, allowing normal metabolism and bone mineralization. Recently, vitamin D deficiency has been related not only with rickets but also with an increased risk of other pathologies. The aim of this descriptive, observational, cross-sectional study was to assess vitamin D concentration levels in a healthy pediatric population, as well as the current situation of prophylaxis. Vitamin D determination was measured by serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentration.
Material and methods:
a total of 258 healthy patients between 3 months and 15 years of age were enrolled (6.77 ± 3.95 years; 73.6 % were male).
Results:
the mean value of 25-hydroxyvitamin D was 26.60 ng/mL ± 8.02 ng/mL, and up to 20.9 % of the population showed insufficient levels. Statistically significant differences in vitamin D levels were observed between ages (p = 0.002), ethnicity groups (p = 0.038), and skin types (p = 0.000). In addition, a higher prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency in children who had never previously received vitamin D supplementation (41.6 %) was observed compared to those that had taken supplementation in the first year of life (16.7 %).
Conclusion:
our study shows a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among healthy children, and the benefit of prophylaxis with vitamin D supplementation.
: Vitamin D; Pediatrics; Vitamin D deficiency; Rickets; Prophylaxis.