Increased risk of cardiovascular disease may be starting in childhood: 25 OH vitamin D levels in Turkish Children

Özet

Background: Vitamin D deficiency has become global health problem and it is associated with metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes mellitus, cancer, cardiovascular diseases and increased mortality. The aim of this study is to shed light on the 25 OH vitamin D status in different age groups of Turkish children. Materials and Method: 1597 children (753 boys (47.2 %) and 844 girls (52.8 %)) admitted to Pediatry Outpatient Clinic were enrolled in this study. 25 OH vitamin D analysis was performed from venous blood samples using Cobas e411 auto-analyzer (Roche Diagnostics, USA). Results: The children were between 0 and 18 years old, mean of age was 6.90 ± 5.1 years (median: 6 year). 25 OH vitamin D levels were between 3 and 70 ng / mL, mean value was 32.4 ± 16.9 ng / mL (median: 29.1 ng / mL). Age and vitamin D levels were inversely correlated and a statistically significant difference was observed between these two parameters (r=-0.450; p=0.0001). Very low vitamin D levels (<10 ng / mL) differed significantly according to gender. It was found significantly higher in girls (p<0.05). Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency is not rare in Turkish children, especially in adolescent period and girls. Vitamin D levels decrease with increasing age throughout childhood. Because of its association with metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension and cardiovascular diseases, vitamin D deficiency in childhood may play a role in the development of these diseases in future. Large scale cohort studies are needed to reveal whether there is such an association.