Vitamin D supplementation and vitamin D status in children of immigrant background in Norway. Issue 16 (9th August 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Madar, Ahmed A; Gundersen, Thomas E; Haug, Anne M; Meyer, Haakon E
• Is Part Of: Public health nutrition. Volume 20:Issue 16(2017)
• Page Start: 2887
• Page End: 2892
• Publication Date: 2017-08-09
• Subjects: Vitamin D, -- Hb, -- Children with immigrantbackground, -- Dried blood spot, -- Breast-feeding; Nutrition -- Periodicals; Nutrition policy -- Periodicals; Public health -- Periodicals; 613.2
• DOI: 10.1017/S136898001700180X
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1368-9800

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: Sufficient vitamin D status during infancy is important for child health and development. Several initiatives for improving vitamin D status among immigrant children have been implemented in Norway. The present study aimed to evaluate the vitamin D status and its determinants in children of immigrant background in Oslo. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Child health clinics in Oslo. Subjects: Healthy children with immigrant background ( n 102) aged 9–16 months were recruited at the routine one-year check-up from two child health clinics with high proportions of immigrant clients. Blood samples were collected using the dried blood spot technique and analysed for serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (s-25(OH)D) concentration using LC–MS/MS. Results: Mean s-25(OH)D was 52·3 (sd 16·7) nmol/l, with only three children below 25 nmol/l and none below 12·5 nmol/l. There was no significant gender, ethnic or seasonal variation in s-25(OH)D. However, compared with breast-fed children, s-25(OH)D concentration was significantly higher among children who were about 1 year of age and not breast-fed. About 38 % of the children were anaemic, but there was no significant correlation between s-25(OH)D and Hb (Pearson correlation, r =0·1, P =0·33). Conclusions: Few children in the study had vitamin D deficiency, but about 47 % of the children in the study population were under the recommended s-25(OH)D sufficiency level of ≥50 nmol/l.