Nutrient Status of Vitamin D among Chinese Children

Abstract

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is considered to be a public health problem. However, the nutrient status of vitamin D in Chinese children is unclear. The aim of this study was to describe the vitamin D status among children aged under 18 years in southeast China. Methods: Children who visited the Huzhou Maternal and Child Care Hospital from January 2012 to August 2015 were included in this large cross-sectional study. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations were measured by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. Vitamin D status was defined as deficiency (25(OH)D < 20 ng/mL), insufficiency (25(OH)D: 20–29 ng/mL) and sufficiency (25(OH)D ≥ 30 ng/mL). The association between relevant variables and vitamin D status was analyzed by a using generalized estimated equation model and a multivariate regression model. Results: 13,997 children aged under 18 years were included. Of these, 23.3% children suffered from low vitamin D status (deficiency and insufficiency), while 76.7% had a sufficient vitamin D status. The prevalence of low vitamin D status was 29.7% in winter and 23.4% in spring, which was higher than that in summer (21.4%) and autumn (19.9%). Clinical visiting children (32.1%) suffered more from low vitamin D than health examination children (17.6%). Additionally, age and season were independently and significantly associated with 25(OH)D concentrations, respectively. Conclusions: The deficiency and insufficiency status of vitamin D was very common among newborns and children aged one to 17 years. This indicates that more sunshine and vitamin D–fortified foods are necessary among Chinese children.

Effect of Vitamin D Intervention and outdoor activity on serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D among children in North China: an observational study

“…However, we still lack of data for the vitamin D nutriture of children form different latitudes. Previous hospital-based cross-sectional studies indicated that 23.28% children in Huzhou (southeastern China, 30°2′-31°1′ N) [24] and 33.60% in Hangzhou (southeastern China, 29°1′-30°3′ N) [25] were found with hypovitaminosis D, whereas the prevalence increased to 65.91% in this study, which is consistent with early research focusing on children in high latitudes. Data from Hutterite communities (Canada, 49°2′-54°8′N) suggested that 76.00% of children suffered from hypovitaminosis D [26] , indicating that hypovitaminosis D might be a common and serious problem in children in high latitudes.…”

“…The pediatric health care system in China has been improved and consists of a proper examination interval and routine monitor network of serum 25(OH)D levels in children [24,35] . Prescriptions were given by health professionals according to vitamin D status and the supplementary recommendation in the consensus of the Chinese Society of Osteoporosis and Bone Mineral Research.…”

Vitamin D deficiency among children aged 10-18 years in Sri Lanka

“…It reflects the amount of vitamin D taken from the diet and that produced in the skin in response to sunlight (UVB) exposure [5]. The use of diverse cut-offs for VDD and laboratory techniques to detect 25(OH)D in previous studies made it difficult to make a comparison between studies [18][19][20][21][22][23][24]. The criterion standard method of testing 25(OH)D is liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC/ MS) and in our study immunoassay was used.…”

Raquitismo carencial: a propósito de un caso.

“…La deficiencia de Vitamina D ha sido investigada en diversos países y afectó al 23% de niños y adolescentes sobre un total de 123.989 estudiados en (24) China ; en EEUU la deficiencia e insuficiencia de vitamina D afectó a 40 % de los 365 lactantes de 8 a 24 (25) meses estudiados ; Salamoun en Líbano encontró una incidencia de 84% de déficit de 25(OH)D en (26) niños escolares , mientras en Islandia país frío, los niveles al año de edad y a los 6 años tenían valores normales y altos por el aporte sistemático de (27) vitamina D . El bajo aporte de calcio de la dieta, ha sido constatada en investigaciones realizadas en diferentes países, tanto en grupos de niños y adolescentes sanos estudiados en un alto porcentaje, ocurriendo en un momento crítico del desarrollo del (12,26) esqueleto en que se forma la masa ósea .…”

“…Desde el punto de vista bioquímico la primera fase de la enfermedad se caracteriza por descenso de los niveles del calcio, elevación de la fosfatasa alcalina (FA), cifras normales de fósforo; en la segunda fase elevación de la hormona paratiroidea (PTH), que promueve la reabsorción del calcio del hueso con normalización de los niveles de mismo, descenso del fósforo, manteniéndose elevada la FA y en la tercera fase de agotamiento hay una nueva caída de los niveles del calcio y del fósforo, con niveles altos de FA y PTH. El raquitismo puede iniciarse o debutar con tetania o (32,33) convulsiones por la hipocalcemia , que en la serie (24) de Ward de 104 casos fue del 19% , diagnóstico que debe ser tenido en cuenta en las salas de urgencias pediátricas para un tratamiento adecuado.…”