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. 2009 Jun;55(3):189-91.
doi: 10.1093/tropej/fmn078. Epub 2008 Sep 5.

Vitamin D insufficiency among children and adolescents living in Tehran, Iran

Ali Rabbani  1 , Seyed-Moayed Alavian, Mohammad Esmaeil Motlagh, Mohammad T H Ashtiani, Gelayol Ardalan, Ali Salavati, Bahareh Rabbani, Ahmad Rabbani, Sedigheh Shams, Nima Parvaneh
Affiliations

Vitamin D insufficiency among children and adolescents living in Tehran, Iran

Ali Rabbani et al. J Trop Pediatr. 2009 Jun.

Abstract

Vitamin D is important for calcium absorption and skeletal growth. Vitamin D insufficiency (VDI) is a prevalent health problem in children. A study was performed to determine the prevalence of VDI in healthy children living in Tehran, Iran. In a cross-sectional study, 963 students (424 boys and 539 girls) aged 7-18 years were selected by random sampling. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD), calcium, alkaline phosphatase and phosphorus were measured. VDI was defined as serum 25-OHD <20 ng/ml. Prevalence of VDI was 53.6% in girls and 11.3% in boys. VDI in female students was about five times more common than males (p < 0.000001). VDI in children and adolescent girls is a health problem not only for these age-groups but also for the next generation to come. Encouraging girls to have more sun exposure, fortification of foods and prescription of supplemental vitamin D are recommended.

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