Vitamin D levels in children with familial Mediterranean fever.
BACKGROUND
This study aimed to determine whether vitamin D deficiency is more common in children with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) than in healthy individuals.


METHODS
The study group consisted of 100 patients diagnosed with FMF and 50 healthy children. Serum baseline 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and other related parameters were evaluated.


RESULTS
The mean (standard deviation [SD]) vitamin D levels in patients with FMF and healthy controls were 24.78 (8.35) and 28.70 (11.70) ng/mL, respectively. Patients with FMF had significantly decreased vitamin D levels compared with those in healthy controls (P = 0.039). Vitamin D levels were similar in patients with FMF with different MEFV mutations (P = 0.633). Age was significantly correlated with vitamin D levels (r = -0.235, P = 0.019). In addition, a negative correlation between parathyroid hormone and vitamin D levels was detected (rs = -0.382, P < 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrated that vitamin D levels are lower in children with FMF than in healthy controls. We speculate that vitamin D levels should be carefully examined, and nutritional supplementation may be required in patients with FMF. Further studies with larger patient populations are needed to confirm the frequency of vitamin D deficiency in patients with FMF.
Department of Pediatrics, Bursa Yuksek Ihtisas Training and Research Hospital, 152 Evler, Prof. Tezok street No: 2, Yıldırım/Bursa, Istanbul, Turkey. drhaticeakar@gmail.com.
Hatice
H
Onur
Department of Biochemistry, Istanbul Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Hale
H
Aral
Department of Pediatrics, Yeniyuzyıl University, Gaziosmanpasa Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Vefik
V
Arica
Department of Pediatrics, Bursa Yuksek Ihtisas Training and Research Hospital, 152 Evler, Prof. Tezok street No: 2, Yıldırım/Bursa, Istanbul, Turkey.
Gamze Atalay
GA
Bercem
Department of Pediatrics Rheumatology, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
Ozgur
O
Kasapcopur
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D010505:Familial Mediterranean Fever / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D000071198:Pyrin / Q000235:genetics*; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis
C000604192:MEFV protein, human; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D000071198:Pyrin; D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D
25-hydroxyvitamin D; Children; Familial Mediterranean fever; Gene mutation