The relationship between Physical Growth and Major Sources of Serum Vitamin D among Hospitalized Children of Changwon City / 대한지역사회영양학회지

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of the sources of vitamin D (duration of exposure to sunlight, intake of major food sources for vitamin D or vitamin D supplements) on the serum 25-(OH) D3 levels, and the physical growth of a child. METHODS: Subjects were 296 children aged 1 to 5 years who visited S hospital located in Changwon City. Survey data collection was carried out by direct interview method, and the biochemical data were collected using hospital records. RESULTS: The study subjects were divided into three groups according to their levels of serum 25-(OH) D3 (deficient, relatively insufficient, sufficient) and their percentage were 48.3%, 44.3% and 7.4% respectively. The average concentration of serum 25-(OH) D3 was 20.41 +/- 6.55 ng/mL, which was relatively insufficient. The average duration of exposure to sunlight was 58.86 +/- 49.18 minutes/day. A total score of vitamin D major food sources was 46.71 points (full marks 153), and the most frequently consumed food items were milk, eggs, and cheese. Thirty-four percent of the subjects took vitamin D supplements and their dose were 11.96 microg/day. Three vitamin D sources in sufficient group were higher than deficient or relatively insufficient group significantly. Intake of vitamin D supplements showed positive relation (+) and high explanation power (R2= 0.288) on serum 25-(OH) D3 concentration, but intake of vitamin D major food sources (+) and the duration of exposure to sunlight (+) had a low explanation power (R2= 0.068). The relations between serum 25-(OH) D3 concentration and physical growth (height and weight) were shown as negative (??, and their explanation powers were low as 7.3% and 5.9% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study results can be useful when discussing the intake standard of vitamin D and the effective intake method for children. In addition, it will be helpful to build the children's nutrition policy and to plan the nutrition education program to improve the vitamin D status in children.