title: Vitamin D Levels in Malnourished Children under 5 Years in a Tertiary Care Center at Muhimbili National Hospital, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania-A Cross-sectional Study.
abstract: : To evaluate vitamin D levels/deficiency among malnourished children <5 years admitted at a tertiary care center, the Muhimbili National Hospital, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Children with malnutrition may have co-existing vitamin D deficiency (VDD), which may be severe.
  
  
  
  : Serum vitamin D and alkaline phosphatase were evaluated, and X-ray of the wrist was carried out on 134 children.
  
  
  
  : VDD was found in 41 of 134 children (30.6%). The mean vitamin D level was 74.8 nmol/l. The mean alkaline phosphatase level was 176.6 U/l. Sixty-four (48%) children were found to have severe stunting, of whom 20 (31.2%) were vitamin D deficient. Marasmic children had higher odds of VDD compared with other forms of malnutrition.
  
  
  
  : The high prevalence of VDD in malnourished children underlines the need for active surveillance and aggressive management.
authors: Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences School of Medicine, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
authors: Nahida Z
authors: NZ
authors: Walli
authors: Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences School of Medicine, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
authors: Emmanuel K
authors: EK
authors: Munubhi
authors: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
authors: Said
authors: S
authors: Aboud
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
authors: Karim P
authors: KP
authors: Manji
mesh_terms: D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D015362:Child Nutrition Disorders; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D013636:Tanzania / Q000453:epidemiology; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase
keywords: : vitamin D deficiency; Tanzania.; malnourished children