Cross-sectional study reveals a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among healthy school children in central Kerala, India

Ayyappan Anitha; Suresh A. Poovathinal; Vijitha Viswambharan; Ismail Thanseem; Mahesh M. Vasu; Ranjitha M.

doi:10.18203/2349-3291.ijcp20190745

Authors

Ayyappan Anitha Department of Neurogenetics, Institute for Communicative and Cognitive Neurosciences (ICCONS), Shoranur, Kerala, India
Suresh A. Poovathinal Department of Neurology, Institute for Communicative and Cognitive Neurosciences (ICCONS), Shoranur, Kerala, India
Vijitha Viswambharan Department of Neurogenetics, Institute for Communicative and Cognitive Neurosciences (ICCONS), Shoranur, Kerala, India
Ismail Thanseem Department of Neurology, Institute for Communicative and Cognitive Neurosciences (ICCONS), Shoranur, Kerala, India
Mahesh M. Vasu Department of Neurogenetics, Institute for Communicative and Cognitive Neurosciences (ICCONS), Shoranur, Kerala, India
Ranjitha M. Department of Neurogenetics, Institute for Communicative and Cognitive Neurosciences (ICCONS), Shoranur, Kerala, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2349-3291.ijcp20190745

Keywords:

Hypovitaminosis D, India, Kerala, Vitamin D

Abstract

Background: Authors examined serum vitamin D status among the healthy school children belonging to the south Indian state of Kerala.

Methods: A cross-sectional study, participants were recruited through medical camps organized in Thrissur and Palakkad districts of central Kerala during the months of March and April 2017. A 174 healthy school children (98 males and 76 females) aged 5-13 years were recruited for the study. The children were found to be healthy on the basis of physical examination by a Paediatrician. None of the children had any symptoms of skeletal deformities. All the children were drug-naive. Data on height, weight, skin color, food habits, physical activities and socio-economic status were recorded. A 2ml of peripheral blood samples were collected from the participants. Total vitamin D in the serum was estimated by chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA).

Results: VDD was observed in 60.92% and insufficiency in 30.46% of the participants. Only 8.62% of the participants had normal vitamin D levels. The mean vitamin D level was 19.93 ng/ml. Males had significantly higher vitamin D levels compared to females. Factors such as age, height, weight, diet, skin color and socio-economic status did not influence vitamin D levels.

Conclusions: This is the first study of vitamin D status among the school-age children of Kerala. This paper adds further evidence to the reports indicating high prevalence of subclinical VDD among children across India and calls for action.

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