title: Frequency of vitamin D insufficiency in healthy children between 1 and 16 years of age in Turkey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to establish the frequencies of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency among healthy children aged 1-16 years and also to determine the factors affecting the levels of vitamin D in Turkey.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 849 healthy individuals whose ages ranged from 1 to 16 years were included in the study. Serum 25(OH)D, calcium, phosphorous and alkaline phosphatase l levels were measured at the end of the winter period. The approximate daily calcium intake was calculated by using a 1-week diet history.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We determined that the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (<20 ng/mL) was 8% and that of vitamin D insufficiency (20-29 ng/mL) was 25.5% in the population investigated. The average daily intake of calcium was especially low in the >8-year-old age group (<1300 mg/day).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vitamin D insufficiency was found to be very common in the population investigated. The daily calcium intake was below the adequate levels especially in school children. Vitamin D supplementation after the first year of life could be beneficial especially for school children and adolescents. The government must develop public policies for the fortification of milk, milk products, and fruit juices with vitamin D.
authors: Pediatrics Department, Gazi University Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. alkimakman@gmail.com
authors: Alkim Oden
authors: AO
authors: Akman
authors: Leyla
authors: L
authors: Tumer
authors: Alev
authors: A
authors: Hasanoglu
authors: Mustafa
authors: M
authors: Ilhan
authors: Banu
authors: B
authors: Caycı
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012621:Seasons; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D