Vitamin D Levels in Children and Adolescents with Cerebral Palsy: Cross-sectional Study / Níveis de Vitamina D em Crianças e Adolescentes com Paralisia Cerebral: Estudo Transversal

Abstract

Aim: Tetraparetic Cerebral Palsy (TCP) patients may present risks factors for Vitamin D deficiency such as increased risk of malnutrition and possibly infrequent sun exposure. The present study aimed to compare the vitamin D status in this population of TCP pediatric patients (Case Group) and compare them with healthy children and adolescents (Control Group). Methods: The clinical data obtained were: gender, age, weight, height, nutritional status, consumption of vitamin D food sources, sun exposure and serum levels of vitamin D. Vitamin D deficiency was defined as 20 ng/mL or less of 25(OH)D; “insufficiency” was defined as between 21-29 ng/mL; “sufficiency” was defined as between 30-100 ng/mL.1 Results: Sixty patients aged 3 to 20 years old were divided into two groups: the Control Group (n=30) and the Case Group (n=30) composed of individuals with TCP. Vitamin D levels did not differ between groups; the mean levels were 26.65 ng/mL (SD: 10.51) in the Case Group and, 28.93 ng/mL (SD: 9.26) in the Control Group. Conclusion: There was no difference identified between vitamin D levels among TCP and control patients, and no relationship between risk factors and serum 25(OH)D levels was observed. Even though Brazil is a tropical country with abundant sunshine during most of the year, there is still a considerable number of individuals with vitamin D classifications of insufficiency and deficiency in our study (N= 34/60). This should be alarming for healthcare professionals who work with the pediatric population, which is a population at risk for the development of disability.