title: Seasonal Variation of Blood Calcium Levels in Children Aged 1-10.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In this study, the associations of seasons with blood calcium levels in children aged 1-10 have not been evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2012-2014, whole blood samples were collected from 2,562 children and calcium concentrations were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The associations of seasons with calcium levels were analyzed by multivariable regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean value of calcium concentrations was 1.61 ± 0.13 mmol/l and the overall deficiency was 29.3%. Overall, compared to those in winter, children in spring and summer had significant lower calcium concentrations that decreased by 1.2% (β = -0.012; 95% CI: -0.021, -0.002) and 1.4% (β = -0.014; 95% CI: -0.023, -0.005), respectively; and corresponding higher calcium deficiencies than those in spring, summer, and autumn with odds ratios (OR) were 1.93 (95% CI: 1.39, 2.66), 1.65 (95% CI: 1.21, 2.24), and 1.57 (95% CI: 1.14, 2.15), respectively. Moreover, this seasonality was more significant in girls in whom calcium concentration in summer decreased by 1.9% (β = -0.019; 95% CI: -0.036, -0.003) and OR for calcium deficiencies in summer was 2.46 (1.38-4.41), compared to the girls in winter.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The seasons have significant association with blood calcium levels, especially in girls. However, the impact of this seasonality on children's health is still unknown.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Laboratory Center, Lu'an People's Hospital, The Lu'an Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Lu'an, People's Republic of China. z02m14c588@aliyun.com.
authors.forename: Meichun
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Clinical Laboratory Center, Lu'an People's Hospital, The Lu'an Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Lu'an, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Rongrong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhai
authors.affiliation: Clinical Laboratory Center, Lu'an People's Hospital, The Lu'an Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Lu'an, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Clinical Laboratory Center, Lu'an People's Hospital, The Lu'an Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Lu'an, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Guang
authors.affiliation: Clinical Laboratory Center, Lu'an People's Hospital, The Lu'an Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Lu'an, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Benzhong
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Clinical Laboratory Center, Lu'an People's Hospital, The Lu'an Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Lu'an, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Songtao
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012621:Seasons
chemical_list: D002118:Calcium
keywords: blood; calcium; children; odds ratios (OR); seasonal variation