The frequency of vitamin D insufficiency and effective factors in the determination on vitamin D insufficiency in children who have chronic neurological disease

Vitamin D insufficiency and rickets is a metabolic bone disease on growing organism which is characterized insufficient mineralization of bone. The most important physiological function of vitamin D is absorption of calcium and phosphorous in intestine, normalization and stabilisation of blood calcium and phosphorous levels in physiological range, provide appropriate mineralization of bone and provide metabolic and neuromuscular function.Because of immobility, less of sun exposure, difficult chewing and difficult swallowing which causes inadequate nutrition, using of anticonvulsive drugs, insufficient intake of calcium cause vitamin D insufficiency and osteopenia in childhood age group who have neurologic and neuromuscular disease such as cerebral palsy, convulsive disorders, spina bifida, myopathy of muscle.In this study it is purposed detection the frequency of vitamin D insufficiency and effective factors in the determination on vitamin D insufficiency in children who have chronic neurological disease. The study group included 100 cases who have chronic neurologic disease and the control group included 30 healthy child, both of two groups aged 1-18 years. The study was designed in general pediatric neurology clinic in Univercity Hospital of Firat between June 2010 and December 2011. 45 (%41.6) of cases were females and 63 (%58.4) were males in study group. In control group 16 (%53.3) of cases were females and 14 (%46.7) were males. It is determined Vitamin D levels low and parathyroid hormone levels high in study group compared with control group. Serum 25(OH)D3 levels lower than 20 ng/ml is classified vitamin D deficiency; serum 25(OH)D3 levels which in 21-30 ng/ml is classified vitamin D insufficiency. In control group 21 (%70) of cases have higher than 21 and lower than 30 ng/ml vitamin D levels, 9 (%30) of cases have higher than 31 ng/ml vitamin D levels. In study group, 83 (%76.9) of cases have lower than 20 ng/ml vitamin D levels, 17 (%15.7) of cases have higher than 21 and lower than 30 ng/ml vitamin D levels and, 8 (%7.4) of cases have higher than 31 ng/ml vitamin D levels .Rickets is not determined in control group but it is determined in study group which included 108 cases, 9 (%8.3) of them have level 1 rickets, 6 (%5.6) of them have level 2 rickets, 2 (%1.9) of them have level 3 rickets.Consequently, in this study, chidren with chronic neurological disease have low vitamin D levels in blood, because of using anticonvulsive drugs, inadequite nutrition, insufficient calcium intake. The treatment of vitamin D prophylaxisis should be done in these patient group.Key words: Chronic neurological disease, vitamin D, rickets, parathyroid hormone, prophylaxis.