Vitamin D and Health

Study/year/country Population Rickets diagnosis Mean 25(OH)D (nmol/L) & Ca (mg/L)
concentrations
Calcium intakes/other
comments
Banajeh (2009)
Sana’a, Yemen
Prospective cohort study (n=79);
Age: 2-59 m
2 or more of following: rosary beads,
craniotabes, frontal bossing, Harrison’s
sulcus with pigeon chest, wide anterior
fontanel, widening of epiphysis, bowing of
legs, delay dentition, double malulous.
Considered rachitic if also had radiological
signs of osteopaenia of upper arm bones &
widening of costochondral junctions.
25(OH)D:
63% (50) > 30
37% (29) < 30
63% had clinical rickets.
Of those with 25(OH)D < 30, 79% rachitic
(radiological signs).
Ca intakes not reported.
Ekbote et al (2010)
Pune, India
Salama et al (2010)
Ain Shams, Egypt
Perez-Rossello et al (2011)
Boston, USA
Children (n=111) living in the slums; mean age
2.6 y. Divided into following groups
Group A: 50 ‘outdoor toddlers’ not attending
crèche
Group B: 61 ‘indoor toddlers’ attending crèche
Sunlight exposure (no. of toddlers):
Group A: 460min
Group B: 2460min
Breast-fed rachitic infants (n=32) with 25(OH)D
< 25nmol/L
17 infants with dark skin; 9 infants presented
with hypocalcaemic seizures.
Mean age of children who presented:
With seizures: 3.67 m ± 1.6
Without seizures: 12.35 m ± 4.3 (p=0.001)
Children (n=40) aged 8–24 m with 25(OH)D
229 IU/L) and/or radiological
rickets.
Median age, 6.3 y (range, 0.2–15 years).
98% dark/intermediate skin colour; 18% girls
partially/completely veiled. 63% born in Africa.
95 children had wrist x-rays - 71% had
rachitic changes.
25(OH)D - median (range): 28 (5–50)
Ca - median (range): 95.2 (48.8–117.6)
Ca intakes not reported.
Rickets presentation
showed seasonal
variation: 60% cases
identified in winter &
spring, compared with
40% in summer &
autumn.
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