Youths with autoimmunity disorders were 2.3 X more likely to be vitamin D deficient
25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and vitamin D deficiency in children with rheumatologic disorders and controls.
J Rheumatol. 2011 Sep;38(9):2000-4. Epub 2011 Jul 15.
Pelajo CF, Lopez-Benitez JM, Miller LC.
Department of Pediatric Rheumatology, Floating Hospital for Children at Tufts Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. cpelajo@tuftsmedicalcenter.org
OBJECTIVE:
To evaluate the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency, as well as factors associated with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels, in children attending a pediatric rheumatology clinic, and to determine whether there was a difference in serum 25(OH)D levels and in vitamin D deficiency between children with autoimmune disorders and nonautoimmune conditions.
METHODS:
Cross-sectional analysis of serum 25(OH)D levels of patients between the ages of 2 and 19 years, seen between November 2008 and October 2009.
RESULTS:
A total of 254 patients were studied (169 autoimmune disorders, 85 nonautoimmune conditions).
The mean age of study patients was 12.3 years; 67% were female and 80% were white.
In the autoimmune disorders group, 23% had vitamin D deficiency [serum 25(OH)D < 20 ng/ml], and in the nonautoimmune conditions group 14% were vitamin D deficient.
The average level of serum 25(OH)D was 28.6 (± 11) ng/ml (range 2 to 59).
Age, ethnicity, body mass index, use of supplements, and season were significantly associated with serum levels of 25(OH)D (all p ? 0.02).
The OR of patients with autoimmune disorders being vitamin D deficient was 2.3 , in relation to patients with nonautoimmune conditions (p = 0.04).
CONCLUSION:
Twenty percent of patients attending a pediatric rheumatology clinic were vitamin D deficient.
Patients with autoimmune disorders were more likely to be vitamin D deficient than patients with nonautoimmune conditions.
Screening of serum 25(OH)D levels should be performed for patients with autoimmune disorders.
PMID: 21765107