Vitamin D status in children over three decades — Do children get enough vitamin D?

Abstract

Vitamin D is a key player in the endocrine regulation of calcium and phosphate metabolism and plays a pivotal role in the acquisition of bone mass during childhood. This study investigated long-term data of vitamin D levels in children and adolescents between 1 and 18 years of age. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) was analyzed between 1982 and 2013 in 2048 Swedish Caucasian children (mean age ± SD, 8.59 ± 3.68 years; 1197 boys). Overall, 704 (34%) children had below recommended levels of 50 nmol/L; however, only 63 (3%) had levels below 25 nmol/L, i.e., vitamin D deficiency. No trend for decreased vitamin D levels over time was found in this population, with median 25(OH)D levels of 58.4 nmol/L, minimum–maximum 5.0–159.3 nmol/L. Younger children, independent of gender, had significantly higher levels 25(OH)D. Keywords: 25-Hydroxyvitamin D, Vitamin D, Infants, Children, Adolescents, Trend