title: Prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency and associated risk factors among children residing at high altitude in Shimla district, Himachal Pradesh, India.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vitamin D is important for bone development in children. A high prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) has been documented from different parts of India. However, limited data are available on VDD among children residing at high altitude region of country.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the prevalence of VDD and associated risk factors among children in the age group of 6-18 years in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh.
  
  
  METHODS
  A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in the year 2014-2015. A total of 626 children in the age group of 6-18 years were enrolled from 30 clusters which were identified using population proportionate to size sampling method. A minimum of 20 children in the age group of 6-18 years per cluster were selected using random number tables. The data on socioeconomic status, physical activity, sunlight exposure, and biochemical parameters of bone and mineral metabolism were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-three percent of school-age children were found Vitamin D deficient as per serum 25(OH) D levels of <20 ng/ml. The prevalence was significantly higher among females.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A high prevalence of VDD was found in children residing in high altitude region.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Nutrition, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Umesh
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kapil
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Ravindra Mohan
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Pandey
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Ravinder
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Goswami
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Brij
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Neetu
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Lakshmy
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ramakrishnan
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Nutrition, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Gajendra
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Nutrition, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Neha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sareen
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Hem Chandra
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Sati
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Nutrition, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Aakriti
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Nutrition, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Nighat Yaseen
authors.initials: NY
authors.lastname: Sofi
keywords: Himachal Pradesh; School age children; Vitamin D deficiency