CLINICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL PROFILE OF VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY

Abstract

Aim: To study the clinical symptoms and signs of vitamin D deficiency and their correlation with 25-Hydroxy vitamin D [25(OH)D] levels.

Materials and methods: It is a prospective Observational study. All children age group of 6months to 13 years who visited the department of pediatrics with Hypovitaminosis D from September 2020 to October 2022. Ethics clearance was obtained before the start of study. Written and informed consent was obtained from all patients.

Results: The mean Vitamin D levels in males and females were 21.13 ± 6.15 ng/ml and 21.36± 5.64ng/ml. There was no significant difference between the Vitamin D levels in males and females (P=0.99). Patients with Vitamin-D level less than12ng/ml show 83% skeletal manifestation. The data shows X-ray changes in 100% of the patients with vitamin D levels below 8ng/ml and in 75% of patients with Vitamin D levels between 8-12ng/ml. The mean age of the patients was 6.27 ± 3.53 years. 12 % participants had vitamin D levels less than 12 ng/ml. Of these, the majority (33.3%) belonged to 2-5 years age group, followed by 25 % each in the 6months to 2 years and 10 to 13years age group. The least deficiency was seen in the 5- 10 years age group. 25 % participants had Vitamin D levels in the range of 12-20 ng/ml. Of these, 36 % belonged to the age group 2-5 years and 5-10 years each. 24 % were in the age group 10-13 years and 8% were in the age group 6months to 2 years. 63 % participants had Vitamin D levels more than 20 ng/ml. The majority (47.6 %) belonged to the age group 5-10 years, followed by 23.8 % participants in the 10-13 years age group, 15.9 % participants in the age group 2-5 years and 12.6 % participants in the 6 months to 2 years age group. The correlation of Vitamin D deficiency with a particular age was not statistically significant (P= 0.2664).

Conclusion: Vitamin D is a modifiable risk factor for stunted growth etc. Hence supplementation at an appropriate age can go a long way in promoting good health among children in a resource limited country like ours. With so many studies all over the world showing a near universal presence of low vitamin D levels, it is a matter of concern whether low levels really cause so many problems. Routine supplementation as recommended by several agencies needs to be periodically reviewed and revised, based on the impact on functional outcomes and changing prevalence patterns of deficiency in target population.