title: Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency and Calcium Homeostasis in Saudi Children.
abstract: Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) and vitamin D insufficiency (VDI) are significant health problems all over the world. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of VDD and VDI in children and adolescents residing in 8 provinces in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and to also investigate calcium homeostasis in these subjects.
  
  
  
  A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2110 participants aged between 6 and 15 years. Information on socio-demographic status, anthropometric measurements, knowledge about vitamin D, color of the skin, dietary intake, sun exposure experience, smoking, and physical activity were collected through a questionnaire given to the parents of all subjects. The subjects were divided into three groups as vitamin D deficient, vitamin D insufficient, and vitamin sufficient according to their blood level of vitamin D [VDD ≤25 nmol/L (25 hydroxy vitamin D), VDI >25-50 nmol/L, and VDS >50 nmol/L].
  
  
  
  VDD was highly prevalent in this group of children. 95.3 of the subjects had either VDD (45.5%) or VDI (49.9%). The prevalence rate of VDD combined with VDI was higher in females (97.8%) compared to males (92.8%) (p<0.001). Only 1.6% had significant hypocalcaemia. Children with dark skin had lower concentrations of vitamin D and higher concentrations of parathormone. A positive correlation was observed between 25 hydroxy vitamin D level and serum calcium, inorganic phosphate, and alkaline phosphatase concentrations. onclusion: The results showed a high prevalence of VDD and VDI in Saudi children with significantly higher prevalence in girls. These findings necessitate the set-up of a national program for vitamin D supplementation and health education for this vulnerable group.
authors.affiliation: King Abdulaziz Medical City in Jeddah, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Department of Pediatrics, Chemistry Laboratory, Community Medicine, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia E-mail: shaikham@ngha.med.sa.
authors.forename: Adnan M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Al Shaikh
authors.forename: Bahaa
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Abaalkhail
authors.forename: Ashraf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Soliman
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kaddam
authors.forename: Khalid
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aseri
authors.forename: Yousef
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Al Saleh
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al Qarni
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al Shuaibi
authors.forename: Waleed
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Al Tamimi
authors.forename: Abdel Moniem
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Mukhtar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood; D010710:Phosphates / Q000097:blood; D015995:Prevalence; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D010710:Phosphates; D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D002118:Calcium