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Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in apparently healthy children in north India

  • Suresh Kumar Angurana EMAIL logo , Renu Suthar Angurana , Gagan Mahajan , Neeraj Kumar and Vikas Mahajan
Published/Copyright: July 9, 2014

Abstract

Background: The data on the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (VDD) in apparently healthy children from India is limited.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of VDD in apparently healthy children.

Design: Prospective study.

Setting and subjects: Apparently healthy children from the age groups of 3 months–12 years, from the upper socioeconomical status (USES), attending the outpatient department (OPD) of a private pediatric hospital in Chandigarh, India, for minor ailments were enrolled over a period of 6 months (March–August 2013).

Methods: Plasma levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] were measured by competitive electrochemiluminescence immunoassay.

Results: In total, 338 children (188 boys, 150 girls) with mean age of 3.31 years were enrolled. The percentages of children with deficient, insufficient, and sufficient levels of 25(OH)D were 40.24%, 25.44%, and 34.32%, respectively. Clinical signs of VDD were seen in only 8.53% of the children. The mean (±SD) levels of 25(OH)D were 27.48 (15.99) ng/mL. On univariate analysis, deficient levels of 25(OH)D were associated with relatively younger age group, female sex, failure to thrive, exclusive breastfeeding, inadequate sun exposure, and no vitamin D supplements.

Conclusion: A high prevalence of clinical and biochemical VDD was noted in apparently healthy children belonging to the USES.


Corresponding author: Dr. Suresh Kumar Angurana, Department of Pediatrics, Chaitanya Hospital, Sector 44, Chandigarh, India, 160044, Phone: +91 9855373969, E-mail:

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Received: 2013-9-30
Accepted: 2014-6-13
Published Online: 2014-7-9
Published in Print: 2014-11-1

©2014 by De Gruyter

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