title: Serum levels of vitamins A and D, and zinc in children with acute diarrhea: A cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Diarrhea is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity during the early life period especially in developing countries. Micronutrients deficiencies have been proposed either as a risk factor or a consequence of diarrhea. Association studies highlight the relation of vitamins and minerals' deficiencies with acute diarrhea. In this regard we aimed to evaluate the status of vitamins A and D, and zinc serum levels in children with acute diarrhea.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross sectional study performed in a referral teaching hospital, we measured and compared baseline vitamin A, 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D), and zinc serum levels in 25 children admitted with acute diarrhea and 25 other children who were admitted for undergoing elective surgeries.
  
  
  RESULTS
  25-(OH)D levels were significantly lower in the diarrhea group (p=0.03). We were unable to demonstrate a significant difference in the levels of vitamin A and zinc between the case and control groups (p= 0.14 and p=0.07, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We observed lower serum 25(OH)D levels in children with acute diarrhea. Whether this finding indicates a premorbid risk factor or simply a consequence of diarrhea needs further studies. Regardless of the cause and effect relationship, supplementation with vitamin D in acute diarrhea remains as a plausible consideration.
authors.affiliation: MD, Associate Professor, Pediatric Gastroenterology division Ali-Asghar Children's Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. talachian.e@iums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Elham
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Talachian
authors.affiliation: MD, Associate Professor, Emergency Department, Hazrat-e-Rasoul Akram Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. bidari.a@iums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bidari
authors.affiliation: MD, Associate Professor, Pediatric Infectious Disease Research Center, Hazrat-e-Rasoul Akram Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Samileh_noorbakhsh@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Samileh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Noorbakhsh
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Infectious Disease Research Center, Hazrat-e-Rasoul Akram Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. azardokhttabatabaei@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Azardokht
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tabatabaei
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Specialist. drfereshtehsalari@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Fereshteh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Salari
keywords: Acute diarrhea; Children; Micronutrients deficiencies; Vitamin A; Vitamin D; Zinc