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Observational Study
. 2018 Nov 8;11(1):801.
doi: 10.1186/s13104-018-3903-7.

Vitamin D levels in a pediatric population of a primary care centre: a public health problem?

J M Fernández Bustillo  1 , A Fernández Pombo  2 , R Gómez Bahamonde  3 , E Sanmartín López  4 , O Gualillo  5
Affiliations
Observational Study

Vitamin D levels in a pediatric population of a primary care centre: a public health problem?

J M Fernández Bustillo et al. BMC Res Notes. .

Abstract

Objective: Vitamin D deficiency is a public health problem that occurs more frequently than expected. The aim of this study is to evaluate the vitamin D levels of children attending the paediatrics unit of the Bertamiráns primary care centre (A Coruña NW Spain). This is an observational study carried out during 1 year on a random sample of the pediatric population aged between 5 and 15 years. The levels of vitamin D (25(OH)D) were determined by immunoassay (ADVIA Centaur Vitamin D®). The results were classified as sufficient (> 20 ng/ml), insufficient (10-20 ng/ml) and deficient (< 10 ng/ml).

Results: 153 analyses of vitamin D were carried out (58.2% in girls and 41.8% in boys), distributed in two age groups: 5-10 (62) and 10-15 (91). 66% of the total of the sample presented some degree of vitamin D deficit (60.1% insufficient (92) and 5.9% (11) deficient). In Galicia, there is a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency in the healthy population, which increases if the patients present some kind of chronic pathology, thus leading to a public health problem. It is advisable to increase the consumption of fortified foods and/or to reconsider the administration of vitamin supplements.

Keywords: Primary care; Vitamin D; Vitamin deficiency.

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