title: Prevalence of vitamin d deficiency in a pediatric hospital of eastern India.
abstract: Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in Indian children of northern, western and southern states. Serum 25 hydroxy cholecalferol (ng/ml) was analyzed in 310 children and adolescents of pediatric hospital of Kolkata, India. Serum calcium (mg/dl), phosphorous (mg/dl) and alkaline phosphatase (IU/L) data was obtained. Median 25(OH)D was 19 ng/ml. 19.2 % of population had serum 25(OH)D < 10 ng/ml (severe deficiency), 52.9 % had <20 ng/ml (deficiency), 24.5 % had 20-29 ng/ml (insufficiency) and 22.6 % had >30 ng/ml (optimum). Deficiency was highest in adolescents (86.1 %), followed by school children (61.0 %), lowest in pre-school children (41.6 %). 25(OH)D concentrations was lowest in winters (P = 0.002) and spring (P = 0.03) compared to summer. There was no correlation with calcium (P = 0.99), phosphorous (P = 0.23) and ALP (P = 0.63). There is high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in children and adolescents of eastern India. Prevalence was lower in younger subjects. 25(OH)D did not correlate with bone mineral markers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Child Health, 11, Dr. Biresh Guha Street, Kolkata, 700029 West Bengal India.
authors.forename: Surupa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Basu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Medicine, Institute of Child Health, Kolkata, India.
authors.forename: Ruchi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Medicine, Institute of Child Health, Kolkata, India.
authors.forename: Monjori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mitra
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Medicine, Institute of Child Health, Kolkata, India.
authors.forename: Apurba
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ghosh
keywords: 25 hydroxy cholecalciferol; Alkaline phosphatase; Calcium; Pediatric; Prevalence; Vitamin D