Association of Vitamin D Concentration with Subjective Health Complaints in Children and Adolescents: The CASPIAN-V Study

Abstract

Background: Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) is recognized as a pandemic across the world. Identification, any association between VDD and subjective health complaints (SHC), can be helpful to realize critical mechanisms and improve psychological and somatic symptoms. However, studies are limited. The purpose of the present study was to examine the associations between VDD and SHC in children and adolescents. Study design: cross-sectional studyMethods: In this national study, 2594 Iranian children and adolescents aged 8 to 18 years were included. Data on SHC, anthropometric indices, physical activity, and serum levels of vitamin D were collected. Logistic regression models (crude, adjusted) were applied to examine any links between VDD and SHC. Statistical analysis was performed using STATA software version 11. P-values< 0.05 were considered as statistically significant.Results: Among SHC, irritability (40.9%) and feeling anxiety (33.7%) were the most prevalent ones. Multiple complaints in students with VDD was 2.5 times greater than those with sufficient vitamin D concentrations (p<0.001). Compare to the reference group, the strongest association was found between vitamin D status and difficulties in getting to sleep (OR: 2.5, 95%CI: 1.18, 3.53, p<0.001).Conclusion: Serum levels of vitamin D in approximately 70% of Iranian children and adolescents were lower than 30 ng/mL. However, no significant differences were found between gender groups. In addition, there were significant associations between vitamin D status and the most somatic and psychological symptoms, particularly for getting to sleep. It seems national interventional programs for vitamin D supplementation or food fortifications can be helpful.