%0 Journal Article
%T High Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency among Bangladeshi Children: An Emerging Public Health Problem
%A Sanjana Zaman
%A Mohammad Delwer Hossain Hawlader
%A Animesh Biswas
%A Mahmudul Hasan
%A Mobashera Jahan
%A Gias U Ahsan
%J Health
%P 1680-1688
%@ 1949-5005
%D 2017
%I Scientific Research Publishing
%R 10.4236/health.2017.912123
%X <b>Background:</b> Recent studies suggested that vitamin D deficiency among children is widespread worldwide. Most of the Asian countries are suffering from high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency, especially in children. However, the vitamin D deficiency of Bangladeshi children has not been investigated yet. The objective of the study was to assess the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among children in Dhaka city, Bangladesh. <b>Methods:</b> A cross-sectional study was designed. Children aged 0 month to 16 years attended Pediatrics¡¯ clinics with minor illness were conveniently recruited. After obtaining informed written consent, venous blood was taken and serum 25(OH)D levels were determined by direct enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Descriptive statistics were performed for age, sex, biochemical parameters. Socio-economic status (SES) was estimated using a wealth index, producing a weighted score. Scores were categorized into quintiles, with category 1 representing the poorest and category 5 the richest. Serum 25(OH)D was categorized: deficient as <10 ng/ml, insufficient as 10 - 29 ng/ml and sufficient as 30 - 100 ng/ml. <b>Results:</b> 31.88% children of 0 - 1 year had deficient serum 25(OH)D level and 52.17% children had insufficient level. Among 2 - 5 years¡¯ group, 38.16% were deficient and 50% were insufficient. Among the 6 - 11 years group, 41.02% were deficient and 52.56% were insufficient. Among 12 - 16 years group, 46.75% were deficient and 51.95% were insufficient. That means, serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D deficiency and insufficiency rate is found very high among Bangladeshi children. <b>Conclusions:</b> The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency among children in Bangladesh is high. The study recommended that vitamin D supplementation in Bangladeshi children should be formally launched from first day of birth up to adolescence.
%K Prevalence
%K Serum 25(OH)D
%K Vitamin D
%K Children
%K Deficiency
%K Bangladesh
%U http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=80730