Endocrine Abstracts

Aim: To determine the vitamin D status among healthy Irish children.

Methods: Over a 12 month period (February 2010–February 2011) well children aged 1–16 years attending for minor elective surgical procedures and medical outpatients were recruited. 25 OH vitamin D₃, parathyroid hormone and bone profile were measured and a detailed questionnaire (dietary vitamin D intake, vitamin D supplements, sunlight exposure and Ethnicity) was completed on each patient.

Results: 260 healthy children were recruited ranging in age from 1 to 16.2 years (mean 5.8 years). The mean vitamin D level over the 12 month period was 50.5 nmol/l (range 4.8–123 nmol/l) with a mean (±S.D.) Spring/ Summer vitamin D level of 53.2 (±26) nmol/l compared to 49 (±24.5) nmol/l for the Autumn/Winter months. 113/260 (43%) of the group had a vitamin D level <50 nmol/l (insufficient) and 40/260 (15%) had a vitamin D level <25 nmol/l (deficient).

In the younger subgroup aged 1–3 years, the mean (±S.D.) vitamin D level was 64.9 (±22.1) nmol/l as compared to 45.2 (±22.1) nmol/l in children >3 years of age. Twenty percent of all children were receiving vitamin D supplementation. In the supplemented group the mean vitamin D level was higher 57 (±41) vs 45 (±31) nmol/l in the unsupplemented group (P value=0.05).

Conclusions: Fifteen percent of Irish children in this study have deficient vitamin D levels, with a further 28% of Irish children having insufficient levels. Vitamin D supplementation improved vitamin D levels. Vitamin D sufficiency confers health benefits beyond its primary role in bone health and calcium homeostasis (Hollick NEJM 2007). Supplementation of vitamin D is now recommended for infants in Ireland. This data suggests that vitamin D supplementation should be extended beyond infancy.