The frequency of vitamin D insufficiency among healthy children whose ages ranged 1-16 and determine the factors affecting the levels of vitamin D

SUMMARY:Vitamin D insufficiency is defined as ?the finding of biochemical evidence of deficiency, without obvious clinical signs or symptoms, such as rickets?. Nowadays, children are having limited sunshine exposure due to spending more time indoors in front of television and computer, air polution, insufficient playgrounds, using sunscreens with high sun protection factors to prevent skin cancer and also tradiotional covered clothing in adolescent girls. Thus, the vitamin D synthesis from the skin is decreased..In this study, we intend to establish the frequencies of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency among healthy children whose ages ranged 1-16 and also determine the factors affecting the levels of vitamin D.The study is performed between April and May 2007. 849 healthy individuals whose age ranged 1-16 were included in the study. Serum 25(OH)D, Ca, P, ALP levels were measured. Socioeconomic status, feeding, vitamin D supplementation in the first year of life, periods of exposure to sunlight, the use of sunscreen, regular physical activities, family history of bone fractures and osteoporosis, the clothing style in adolescense girls were asked in our questionnaire.We determined that the prevelances for vitamin D deficiency was 8%, vitamin D insufficiency was 25,5% in the population investigated. The daily Ca intake was especially low in >8 age group.In our study group, we found the vitamin D insufficiency was very common in the populaton investigated. The daily Ca intake was below the adaquate levels especially in school children.The results of the study suggest that more investigations sampling the whole country. are neccassary. The vitamin D supplemantation must be continued after the first year of life, especially for the school children and adolescenses or the goverment must develop public policies for the fortification of milk, milk products, fruit juices with vitamin D.Key words: Vitamin D Deficiency, Vitamin D İnsufficiency, 25(OH)D