AbstractObjective: To assess the 25 (OH) vitamin D level in children of Central Kerala, aged 1 to 5 years and to find its correlation with clinical manifestations of vitamin D deficiency. Methods: Children aged 1 to 5 years, attending the immunization clinic, OPD and well baby clinic in the department of Pediatrics, Government Medical College, Thrissur, Kerala. Children were examined for clinical features of rickets. Serum 25(OH) D and PTH levels were assessed. Results: Among the 108 children included in the study group, none had clinical features of rickets. Male to female ratio was 56:52. The mean Vit D level detected was 18.51ng/ml (3.7-68.0ng/dl). Majority of them (54.6%) had levels between 10-20 ng/ml. The mean PTH was 31.3pg/ml (6.5-53.6pg/ml). Ca, P and ALP level had average values of 8.77mg/dl, 6.17mg/dl and 202.7 IU respectively.
Conclusions: The mean level of 25OH D in Indian children is ‘low’ when compared to the western literature, though none of them had rickets or biochemical evidence of secondary hyperparathyroidism. More data in children are needed to determine the ‘cut off ‘ level of 25 hydroxy D in children below which appropriate vitamin D supplements can be prescribed.
Keywords: Vitamin D; Deficiency; 25 Hydroxy D Level.