Ranadip Chowdhury1, Sunita Taneja2, Nita Bhandari2, Tor A Strand3, Maharaj Kishan Bhan4. 1. Centre for Health Research and Development, Society for Applied Studies, Kalu Sarai, New Delhi. Electronic address: Ranadip.chowdhury@sas.org.in. 2. Centre for Health Research and Development, Society for Applied Studies, Kalu Sarai, New Delhi. 3. Department of Research, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Brumunddal, Norway; Centre for Intervention Science in Maternal and Child Health, Centre for International Health, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway. 4. National Science Professor, Indian Institute Technology, Delhi, India; Knowledge Integration and Translational Platform (KnIT), Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), New Delhi, India.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to examine the association between vitamin D deficiency and anemia status among young children in the resource-poor setting of northern urban India. METHODS: We used data from a randomized controlled trial of daily supplementation with folic acid, vitamin B12, or both for 6 mo in children 6 to 30 mo of age conducted in Delhi, India. We measured serum vitamin D status, hemoglobin, plasma vitamin B12, folate, soluble transferrin receptor, and homocysteine levels at baseline. Children with severe anemia (hemoglobin [Hgb] <7 g/dL) were excluded from enrollment. Multivariable logistic and multinomial logistic regressions were used to examine the association between vitamin D and anemia status at baseline. RESULTS:25-Hydroxyvitamin-D (25 OHD) concentration was measured for 960 (96%) children. Of the children, 331 (34.5%) were vitamin-D deficient (<10 ng/mL). Approximately 70% of the enrolled children were anemic, with ∼46% having moderate (Hgb 7-9.9 g/dL) and 24% mild (Hgb 10-10.9 g/dL) anemia. There was no association between vitamin D and anemia status after adjusting for confounders; however, the risk for moderate anemia was significantly higher among vitamin D-deficient children than those who were vitamin-D replete (relative risk, 1.58; 95% confidence interval, 1.09-2.31). CONCLUSIONS:Vitamin D deficiency was associated with moderate anemia among young children and the effect was independent of iron deficiency. The causal association of vitamin D deficiency with anemia risk remains debatable. The role of vitamin D in risk for anemia needs to be examined in further studies.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to examine the association between vitamin Ddeficiency and anemia status among young children in the resource-poor setting of northern urban India. METHODS: We used data from a randomized controlled trial of daily supplementation with folic acid, vitamin B12, or both for 6 mo in children 6 to 30 mo of age conducted in Delhi, India. We measured serum vitamin D status, hemoglobin, plasma vitamin B12, folate, soluble transferrin receptor, and homocysteine levels at baseline. Children with severe anemia (hemoglobin [Hgb] <7 g/dL) were excluded from enrollment. Multivariable logistic and multinomial logistic regressions were used to examine the association between vitamin D and anemia status at baseline. RESULTS:25-Hydroxyvitamin-D (25 OHD) concentration was measured for 960 (96%) children. Of the children, 331 (34.5%) were vitamin-D deficient (<10 ng/mL). Approximately 70% of the enrolled children were anemic, with ∼46% having moderate (Hgb 7-9.9 g/dL) and 24% mild (Hgb 10-10.9 g/dL) anemia. There was no association between vitamin D and anemia status after adjusting for confounders; however, the risk for moderate anemia was significantly higher among vitamin D-deficient children than those who were vitamin-D replete (relative risk, 1.58; 95% confidence interval, 1.09-2.31). CONCLUSIONS:Vitamin D deficiency was associated with moderate anemia among young children and the effect was independent of iron deficiency. The causal association of vitamin D deficiency with anemia risk remains debatable. The role of vitamin D in risk for anemia needs to be examined in further studies.
Authors: Reagan M Mogire; John Muthii Muriuki; Alireza Morovat; Alexander J Mentzer; Emily L Webb; Wandia Kimita; Francis M Ndungu; Alex W Macharia; Clare L Cutland; Sodiomon B Sirima; Amidou Diarra; Alfred B Tiono; Swaib A Lule; Shabir A Madhi; Andrew M Prentice; Philip Bejon; John M Pettifor; Alison M Elliott; Adebowale Adeyemo; Thomas N Williams; Sarah H Atkinson Journal: Nutrients Date: 2022-03-25 Impact factor: 5.717