Low vitamin D status in children with sickle cell disease.
OBJECTIVE
To examine vitamin D status in children with sickle cell disease (SCD)-SS and its relation to season and dietary intake.


METHODS
Growth, dietary intake, 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD), and parathyroid hormone levels were measured. Children with low and normal vitamin D status were compared. Low vitamin D status was defined as a serum concentration of 25-OHD <27.5 nmol/L. Serum 25-OHD and parathyroid hormone levels were compared among children with SCD-SS and healthy children.


RESULTS
Children with SCD-SS (n=65), 5 to 18 years of age, were evaluated. Mean (+/-SD) serum 25-OHD concentration was 25.5 +/- 12.8 nmol/L; 65% of subjects had low vitamin D status. Low vitamin D prevalence was highest during spring (100%). Children with SCD-SS were at higher risk for low vitamin D status than healthy children. Vitamin D intake was lower in subjects with SCD-SS and low vitamin D than those with normal serum vitamin D status (P <.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Low serum vitamin D status was highly prevalent in black children with SCD-SS. Vitamin D status was associated with season and dietary intake.
Buison
Anne M
AM
Division of Gastroenterology and Nutrition, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania, 19104, USA.
Kawchak
Deborah A
DA
Schall
Joan
J
Ohene-Frempong
Kwaku
K
Stallings
Virginia A
VA
Zemel
Babette S
BS
D000293:Adolescent; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000097:blood*; D044383:Black People; D001837:Body Weights and Measures; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood; D012621:Seasons; D012741:Sexual Maturation; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood*
D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D