The impact of atmospheric pollution on vitamin D status of infants and toddlers in Delhi, India.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the vitamin D status of 34 children, 9-24 months old, living in an area of Delhi renowned for high levels of atmospheric pollution (Mori Gate), with a comparable age matched group of children from a less polluted (Gurgaon) area of the city.


METHODS
Serum concentrations of calcium, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), parathyroid hormone (PTH), 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2D) were measured. Haze scores, regarded as a surrogate marker of solar UVB radiation reaching ground level, were measured in both areas.


RESULTS
Mean 25(OH)D of children in the Mori Gate area was 12.4 (7) ng/ml, compared with 27.1 (7) ng/ml in children living in the Gurgaon area (p < 0.001). The median ALP (p < 0.05) and mean PTH (p < 0.001) concentrations were higher in children living in the Mori Gate area than in the Gurgaon area. The mean haze score in the Mori Gate area (2.1 (0.5)) was significantly lower (p < 0.05) than in the Gurgaon area (2.7 (0.4)), indicating less solar UVB reaching the ground in Mori Gate.


CONCLUSIONS
We suggest that children living in areas of high atmospheric pollution are at risk of developing vitamin D deficiency rickets and should be offered vitamin D supplements.
Department of Paediatrics and Neonatology, Saint Stephen's Hospital, Delhi, India.
K S
KS
Agarwal
M Z
MZ
Mughal
P
P
Upadhyay
J L
JL
Berry
E B
EB
Mawer
J M
JM
Puliyel
D000397:Air Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D014504:Urban Health; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*
D015415:Biomarkers; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D014807:Vitamin D; C097949:1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D