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

Abstract

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.

<p>Effect of Pandemic-Related Confinement on Vitamin D Status Among Children Aged 0–6 Years in Guangzhou, China: A Cross-Sectional Study</p>

“…Consistently, Zhang et al analyzed 25(OH)D levels in 6953 children aged 0-6 years and revealed that the rates of vitamin D deficiency among children aged 0-1, 1-3, and 3-6 years were 17.9%, 21.2%, and 48.1%, respectively, 11 and Isa et al found a decrease in 25(OH)D levels of 2.164 nmol/L per year of age and showed that 25 (OH)D levels were negatively associated with increasing age. 12 Taken together, these findings suggest that 25(OH) D levels decline with increasing age.…”

Vitamin D Status and Its Influence on the Health of Preschool Children in Hangzhou

“…Consistent with many studies (1, 2), we found no significant difference in the vitamin D status between boys and girls. However, a study in Bahrain showed that the mean 25(OH)D levels of girls were significantly lower than those of boys and that girls had a higher prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (14). Similarly, a study in Saudi Arabia also reported that vitamin D deficiency was more serious among females than males (15).…”

“…In addition, Spearman correlation analysis also suggested a significant inverse association between 25(OH)D levels and age. Even so, however, the association and mechanism between vitamin D and age are still unconfirmed (14). Further studies should be performed to determine how vitamin D status is affected by children's age.…”

“…The difference might be due to different cultural factors and religious behaviors. Girls in Muslim countries with traditional dress have less sun exposure than boys, and boys tend to play outside and produce more vitamin D (14,16). Young age of children has often been found to be a potential risk factor for vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency.…”

Incidence rate of vitamin D deficiency and FGF23 levels in 12- to 13-year-old adolescents in Japan

“…Surprisingly, only six boys (1.2%) were vitamin D sufficient [25(OH)D ≧ 30 ng/ml] in our cohort even though the levels of serum 25(OH)D were measured between spring and early summer. Other studies report that 70-100% of adolescents and adults had vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency in all seasons except for summer [13,14,[18][19][20][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29]. Assessment criteria for vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency utilyzing serum 25(OH)D levels in Japan was defined by integrating domestic data of the relationship between serum 25(OH)D levels and bone and mineral events such as osteoporotic fractures, and published guidelines worldwide [17,30].…”