title: Factors Influencing Serum Vitamin D Concentration in Turkish Children Residing in İzmir: A Single-Center Experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to examine the vitamin D status of children and to determine the factors influencing serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentration in Turkish infants living in İzmir.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, we examined the serum 25(OH)D levels of 100 infants aged 1 to 24 months and of 22 mothers from İzmir, Turkey. The study also included a questionnaire given to the mothers to acquire data on the demographic characteristics of the infants and their mothers as well as information on vitamin D supplementation, clothing habits, and sunlight exposure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Vitamin D deficiency was present in 31% of infants and 81.8% of mothers. Twenty-four male (42.9%) and 7 female (15.9%) infants were found to be vitamin D deficient (<20 mg/dL); 9 male (16.1%) and 17 female (38.6%) infants to be vitamin D insufficient (20-30 mg/dL); and 23 male (41.1%) and 20 female (45.5%) infants were vitamin D sufficient (>30 mg/dL). Only 63% of the infants were receiving vitamin D supplementation and 52% were said to be having regular exposure to sunlight. Mean serum vitamin D levels were lower in infants whose mothers were dressed according to the culture of traditional covered clothing (44%) compared to those infants whose mothers' dressing style provided more exposure to sunlight.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that low exposure to sunlight, inadequate use of vitamin D supplementation, and large family size are factors influencing the vitamin D status of Turkish children living in the inner city of İzmir.
authors.forename: Pamir
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gülez
authors.affiliation: Dr. Behçet Uz Children Disease and Surgery Training and Research Hospital, Clinic of Pediatric Endocrinology, İzmir, Turkey Phone: +90 232 411 63 18 E-mail: drkorkmazanil@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Hüseyin Anıl
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Korkmaz
authors.forename: Dilek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Özkök
authors.forename: Demet
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Can
authors.forename: Behzat
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Özkan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D