Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency and Calcium Homeostasis in Saudi Children
Adnan M. Al Shaikh1, Bahaa Abaalkhail2, Ashraf Soliman3, Ibrahim Kaddam1, Khalid Aseri1, Yousef Al Saleh4, Ali Al Qarni5, Ahmed Al Shuaibi6, Waleed Al Tamimi4, Abdel Moniem Mukhtar21King Abdulaziz Medical City İn Jeddah, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University For Health Sciences, Department Of Pediatrics, Chemistry Laboratory, Community Medicine, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia2King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Clinic Of Family And Community Medicine, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
3University Of Alexandria Faculty Of Medicine, Department Of Pediatrics, Alexandria, Egypt
4King Abdulaziz Medical City-Central, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University For Health Sciences, Department Of Medicine, Chmistry Laboratory, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
5King Abdulaziz University Hospital, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Al Hasa, Saudi Arabia
6Imam Abdulrahman Alfaisal Hospital, Clinic Of Family Medicine, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
Objective: Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) and vitamin D insufficiency (VDI) are significant health problems all over the world. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of VDD and VDI in children and adolescents residing in 8 provinces in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and to also investigate calcium homeostasis in these subjects.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2110 participants aged between 6 and 15 years. Information on socio-demographic status, anthropometric measurements, knowledge about vitamin D, color of the skin, dietary intake, sun exposure experience, smoking, and physical activity were collected through a questionnaire given to the parents of all subjects. The subjects were divided into three groups as vitamin D deficient, vitamin D insufficient, and vitamin sufficient according to their blood level of vitamin D [VDD ?25 nmol/L (25 hydroxy vitamin D), VDI >25-50 nmol/L, and VDS >50 nmol/L].
Results: VDD was highly prevalent in this group of children. 95.3 of the subjects had either VDD (45.5%) or VDI (49.9%). The prevalence rate of VDD combined with VDI was higher in females (97.8%) compared to males (92.8%) (p<0.001). Only 1.6% had significant hypocalcaemia. Children with dark skin had lower concentrations of vitamin D and higher concentrations of parathormone. A positive correlation was observed between 25 hydroxy vitamin D level and serum calcium, inorganic phosphate, and alkaline phosphatase concentrations.
Conclusion: The results showed a high prevalence of VDD and VDI in Saudi children with significantly higher prevalence in girls. These findings necessitate the set-up of a national program for vitamin D supplementation and health education for this vulnerable group.
Manuscript Language: English
