C Beuzit1, M-C L'Hour1, S Roudaut2, M Gouillou2, C Metz1, M-P Moineau3, H Kerspern3, L de Parscau1, R Teissier4. 1. Service de pédiatrie et génétique médicale, CHRU de Brest, 2, avenue Foch, 29200 Brest, France. 2. Centre d'investigation clinique, CHRU de Brest, 29200 Brest, France. 3. Département de biochimie et pharmacologie-toxicologie, CHRU de Brest, 29200 Brest, France. 4. Service de pédiatrie et génétique médicale, CHRU de Brest, 2, avenue Foch, 29200 Brest, France. Electronic address: raphael.teissier@chu-brest.fr.
Abstract
UNLABELLED: French guidelines do not recommend systematic supplementation of vitamin D in children aged 5-10 years old owing to the lack of data on vitamin D status in this age group. Our objective was to assess the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in these children. METHODOLOGY: Single-center, prospective, epidemiological study including 358 children aged 0-15 years. The endpoint was the concentration of vitamin D. RESULTS: In all, 316 children were divided into four groups according to age: 0-18 months (n=113); 18 months to 5 years (n=103); 5-10 years (n=62); and 10-15 years (n=38). The median concentration of vitamin D decreased with age (P<0.001): 90.2 nmol/L in the group aged 0-18 months; 56.7 nmol/L in the group aged 18 months to 5 years; 49.05 nmol/L in the group aged 5-10 years; and 42.45 nmol/L in the group aged 10-15 years. This corresponds to an increase in the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in children aged 5-10 years (51.6% vs. 8.8% in the group aged 0-18 months, P<0.001). For children aged 5-10 years, the prevalence of deficiency was greater in the non-supplementation group (75%) compared with the supplementation group (13%; P<0.001). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in children aged 5-10 years and the relationship between supplementation and vitamin D status. It provides an argument in favor of supplementation in children aged 5-10 years in this region and a reconsideration of the French recommendations.
UNLABELLED: French guidelines do not recommend systematic supplementation of vitamin D in children aged 5-10 years old owing to the lack of data on vitamin D status in this age group. Our objective was to assess the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in these children. METHODOLOGY: Single-center, prospective, epidemiological study including 358 children aged 0-15 years. The endpoint was the concentration of vitamin D. RESULTS: In all, 316 children were divided into four groups according to age: 0-18 months (n=113); 18 months to 5 years (n=103); 5-10 years (n=62); and 10-15 years (n=38). The median concentration of vitamin D decreased with age (P<0.001): 90.2 nmol/L in the group aged 0-18 months; 56.7 nmol/L in the group aged 18 months to 5 years; 49.05 nmol/L in the group aged 5-10 years; and 42.45 nmol/L in the group aged 10-15 years. This corresponds to an increase in the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in children aged 5-10 years (51.6% vs. 8.8% in the group aged 0-18 months, P<0.001). For children aged 5-10 years, the prevalence of deficiency was greater in the non-supplementation group (75%) compared with the supplementation group (13%; P<0.001). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in children aged 5-10 years and the relationship between supplementation and vitamin D status. It provides an argument in favor of supplementation in children aged 5-10 years in this region and a reconsideration of the French recommendations.