Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency and Calcium Homeostasis in Saudi Children

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is a global health problem in children. The vitamin D status of children and adolescents has not been evaluated in Bahrain. Aims: This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in healthy children in Bahrain and to investigate the relationship between vitamin D level and age and sex. Methods: Medical records of children aged 1 month to 16 years who attended a vitamin D screening campaign at Al Kindi Specialized Hospital, Bahrain between September and October 2016 were reviewed. Data on sex and age were recorded and vitamin D level was measured as serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D]. Children were grouped as: vitamin D sufficient [25(OH)D ≥ 75 nmol/L], vitamin D insufficient (51-74 nmol/L) and vitamin D deficient (≤ 50 nmol/L). Results: A total of 531 children were included in the study, 50.8% of whom were boys. Most of the children (93.4%) had low vitamin D levels; 78.3% were vitamin D deficient and 15.1% vitamin D insufficient. Only 6.6% were vitamin D sufficient. A significantly greater proportion of girls were vitamin D deficient than boys (P < 0.001). More primary-school children and adolescents were vitamin D deficient than preschool children (P < 0.001). A negative correlation was found between vitamin D level and age (r =-0.467; P < 0.001). Regression analysis showed that vitamin D level decreased by-2.164 nmol/L for each year of age. Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency is a problem among healthy children in Bahrain. Public health policies or interventions are suggested to improve vitamin D status in Bahrain, especially for school-aged children.

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“…Vitamin D is a vital steroid hormone (1). It is mainly produced in the skin after exposure to sunlight (1)(2)(3).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vitamin D deficiency in healthy children in Bahrain: do gender and age matter?

Isa

Almaliki

Alsabea

et al. 2020

East Mediterr Health J

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“…A systematic review and meta-analysis (2018) on Iranian studies revealed that35% and 61% of Iranian boys and girls suffered from VDD, respectively. Based on their estimation, the prevalence of vitamin D insu ciency in Iranian children and adolescents was 31% (22) (24). According to the study by Shin et al, vitamin D insu ciency or VDD was found in 98.9 % of Korean boys and 100 % of girls (25).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Namazi

Qorbani

Shafiee

et al. 2020

Preprint

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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.

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“…Melanin pigmentation absorbs and scatters most of the sunlight radiation, thus its acts as a natural sunscreen: skin pigmentation hinders the transformation from 7‐dehydrocholesterol to vitamin D . Therefore, fairer skinned subjects had higher serum vitamin D as compared with dark skinned individuals, who require more sun exposure (approx. sixfold more UV B [UVB]) exposure) to produce an equivalent concentration to that in light skinned individuals …”

Section: Factors Influencing Vitamin D Status In Children In Asiamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Traditional dress‐style and covering of the body minimize the skin exposed to the sun and limit the vitamin D production. Therefore, a higher prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in girls than in boys has been reported in Muslim countries in Asia …”

Section: Factors Influencing Vitamin D Status In Children In Asiamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Age is another risk factor influencing vitamin D status. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in children increases with age, as the synthesis of endogenous vitamin D decreases with age . Moreover, older individuals may be less physically active and spend more time indoors, which significantly influences their vitamin D status …”

Section: Factors Influencing Vitamin D Status In Children In Asiamentioning

confidence: 99%

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Dental caries and vitamin D status in children in Asia

Almoudi

Hussein

Hassan

et al. 2019

Pediatrics International

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Dental caries and vitamin D inadequacy are known to affect children worldwide. Vitamin D has a vital role in tooth formation. There is growing evidence linking suboptimal serum vitamin D level with dental caries in children. This paper reviews the literature on both the prevalence of dental caries and of vitamin D deficiency in children in four Asian regions, discusses their associated risk factors, and reviews the global evidence on the association between dental caries and vitamin D in children. Caries prevalence in children ranged from 40% to 97% in Eastern Asia, 38-73.7% in Southern Asia, and 26.5-74.7% in Western Asian countries. Moreover, a higher prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Asian children was identified, even in countries in equatorial regions, ranging from 2.8% to 65.3% in Eastern Asia, 5-66.7% in Southern Asia, 4-45.5% in Western Asia and 38.1-78.7% in Central Asian countries. Obesity, age, female gender, higher latitude, season, darker skin pigmentation, sunlight protection behaviors, less sunlight exposure and low intake of food containing vitamin D were important factors associated with lower serum vitamin D in Asia. Suboptimal vitamin D level in children may be a significant risk factor for dental caries, and requires further research to ascertain such an association in children in Asia, as well as to understand its exact influence on caries risk and development.

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Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency and Calcium Homeostasis in Saudi Children

Cited by 43 publications

References 33 publications

Vitamin D deficiency in healthy children in Bahrain: do gender and age matter?

Vitamin D deficiency in healthy children in Bahrain: do gender and age matter?

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

Dental caries and vitamin D status in children in Asia

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