The effect of vitamin d and fetuin-a on growth retardation and short stature in children

Vitamin D deficiency is common in the World and Turkey due to changing lifestyles. The association with autoimmune diseases such as obesity, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and important diseases such as cancer has made it important to prevent vitamin D deficiency. Fetuin-A is a glycoprotein produced in the liver and it is effective in the inhibition of bone mineralization, insulin resistance, obesity and calcification in smooth muscle. In the study conducted, it was aimed to investigate the relationship between the two substances in growth retardation, considering that Vitamin D and fetuin-A are acting through similar mechanisms. The study was conducted with 50 healthy children with growth retardation. Children were divided according to their age preschool and middle chilhood age. Each child was classified according to their percentile curves by measuring height and weight. Vitamin D levels were studied by HPLC method and fetuin-A levels were studied by ELISA method. Vitamin D deficiency was detected as 18%, while inadequacy was found as 49%. Vitamin D adequacy was 20% in those with growth retardation. In short patients and underweight patients, vitamin D levels were found to be lower than control group (respectively p=0,011 p=0,036). As vitamin D value increased one unit, it was found that the risk of growth retardation decreased by 1,071 times (p=0,21). Fetuin-A levels were higher in those with growth retardation (p=0,035). In the preschool group, fetuin-A was higher than middle childhood (p<0,001). In short patients, fetuin-A levels were higher than control groups (p=0,043). There was no significant difference in fetuin-A levels between underweight patients and control groups (p=0,064). There was a poor correlation between vitamin D and fetuin-A levels in those with growth retardation (rho:0,366 p=0,009) and there was no relation in control group (p=0,31). Fetuin-A levels were higher in short children and there was a positive relationship between vitamin D and fetuin-A levels in those with growth retardation. Vitamin D levels were lower in those with growth retardation.