Publication:

Sero-prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among pediatric subjects visiting central railway hospital, Byculla, Mumbai, India: a cross sectional study

Background Vitamin D deficiency leads to improper bone mineralization and causes rickets in children. Recently role of vitamin D has been found in a wide range of physiological functions, including cell differentiation, immune function and insulin production.

Methods This study was hospital-based cross-sectional study. Participants were recruited from population of young children aged 6 months to 15 years attending Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar central railway hospital at Byculla, Mumbai, India. Sample size was 150 subjects. Study duration was May 2012 to May 2013. Vitamin D levels were measured by electrochemiluminescent immunoassay. Vitamin D deficiency was defined as levels <50 nmol/L.

Results 127 children (84.6%) were vitamin D deficient. 91 subjects were males and 59 were females. 78 (85%) males and 49 (83%) females had vitamin D deficiency. The difference was not statistically significant (p=0.658). The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in age group 6 months to 5 years was 87.5%, 6 to10 years was 84.9% and 11-15 years was 81.6%. The difference was not statistically significant (p=0.734).

Conclusions There was very high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in study population. We found no age and gender variation in vitamin D deficiency.