Searchable abstracts of presentations at key conferences in endocrinology
Endocrine Abstracts (2011) 27 P6

BSPED2011 Poster Presentations (1) (84 abstracts)

Vitamin D status of children and adolescents attending an Endocrinology Clinic

Marie Roddy 1, & Edna Roche 1,


1Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, AMNCH, Dublin, Ireland; 2Department of Endocrinology, AMNCH, Dublin, Ireland.


Introduction: The importance of vitamin D beyond bone health is increasingly recognised. As a result Ireland has recently introduced a policy of vitamin D supplementation for all infants. A vitamin D level of 50 nmol/l for children/adolescents has been recommended as sufficient (1). We sought to establish the vitamin D status in children and adolescents attending a Paediatric Endocrinology Department and explore the relationship between vitamin D status and age, sex, body mass index (BMI) and seasonality.

Methods: A retrospective review of vitamin D levels was conducted (n=73). Vitamin D was measured using HPLC mass spectrometry. BMI and age at time of first vitamin D was recorded. BMI Z scores were calculated. Data analysed using Minitab.

Results: Seventy-three children (30 boys) were included in the analysis with mean age (S.D.) of 9.0 (5.0; range 1–16 years). Diagnoses included trisomy 21, diabetes, short stature and precocious puberty. Fifty percent of children were classified as overweight or obese. Only 36% had a vitamin D level >50 nmol/l with mean of 40.55 (19.97) nmol/l (range 10–84 nmol/l). There was no difference between boys and girls (P=0.581). There was an inverse correlation between vitamin D status and age (P=0.001) as vitamin D decreased with increasing age. There was no correlation between BMI and vitamin D level (P=0.292). A seasonal effect was evident, with the highest median vitamin D in September and the lowest in December.

Conclusions: This study demonstrates the importance of assessing vitamin D status in the older child and adolescent as only 36% had a level greater than the 50 nmol/l recommended. It is important to consider seasonal effects when assessing vitamin D status. Further study is required to investigate the vitamin D status of Irish children and adolescents to ascertain if the national guidelines for supplementation should be broadened.

Volume 27

39th Meeting of the British Society for Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes

British Society for Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes 

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