Background:

the main action of vitamin D is to maintain the concentration of calcium and phosphorus within the physiological range, allowing normal metabolism and bone mineralization. Vitamin D receptors have recently been described in many tissues, therefore vitamin D deficiency has been related not only to rickets, but also to increased risk of diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular, oncological, infectious and autoimmune diseases.

Objective:

the aim of the study was to know the vitamin D concentration in a healthy pediatric population and to verify its influential factors, as well as to analyze the current situation of vitamin D prophylaxis and to evaluate the effectiveness of current recommendations.

Methods:

one hundred and seven healthy patients aged between one and 15 years were selected, who required a blood test as a preoperative minor surgery and whose pathology did not influence the parameters of the study.

Results:

the sample analyzed had a total of 78.5% males and a mean age of 7.17 ± 3.79 years. Mean values of vitamin D were 26.07 ± 7.11 ng/ml; up to 72.9% had insufficient levels. The sample was divided into two groups: patients with hypovitaminosis D and patients with optimal vitamin D levels. A predominance of males with a higher body mass index, from immigrant parents, and the presence of extreme phototypes were observed in the hypovitaminosis group. There was also a higher risk of hypovitaminosis in those who had not performed prophylaxis during the first year of life.

Conclusions:

the high percentage of healthy children with vitamin D deficiency is evident, and current recommendations for prophylaxis are not carried out by the population as recommended by current guidelines.

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