Vitamin D status of socio-economically deprived children in Kabul, Afghanistan.
BACKGROUND
Cultural, environmental, and diet-related factors were postulated to lead to a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Kabul's socioeconomically deprived children under 5 years of age. We investigated the prevalence of plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) deficiency in such a group.


METHODS
Children between 6 months and up to 5 years of age were randomly sampled in the Chindawal area of Kabul in January 2005. Plasma samples were frozen to below -20 degrees C and 25(OH)D3 concentrations estimated by high-pressure liquid chromatography.


RESULTS
For all 107 children tested, the median plasma 25(OH)D concentration was 5 ng/mL with a range of 2-24 ng/mL; 73% had concentrations of < 8 ng/mL; 13 other samples were not analyzed due to insufficiency of plasma, staff, or technical problems. About 35 others approached either did not give consent or blood could not be obtained.


CONCLUSIONS
This study was conducted in a high-risk population at a peak season for vitamin D deficiency. We conclude that this population of children living in Kabul to be at great risk of developing vitamin D deficiency, rickets, and other possible immunological effects of deficiency.
Manaseki-Holland
Semira
S
Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, Birmingham University, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK. semira.manasekiholland@akdn-afg.org
Zulf Mughal
M
M
Bhutta
Zulfiqar
Z
Qasem Shams
M
M
D000346:Afghanistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011203:Poverty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*
D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D