Abstract
CONCLUSIONS:
The high frequency of vitamin D deficiency in immigrant children (especially girls older than 10 years) indicates a need for supplementation and nutritional support.
RESULTS:
A total of 171 immigrant children with a mean age of 10.1±5.3 years were included in the study. Of these children, while 25.7% were observed to have normal (>20 ng/mL) 25(OH)D blood level, 31.2% were established to have mild deficiency (12-20ng/mL), and 40.9% were found to have vitamin D deficiency requiring treatment (<12ng/mL). When compared the vitamin D levels of children according to their gender, age groups, and nationalities, girls (p=0.003) and children at the age of 10 and above (p≤0.001) were observed to have lower 25(OH)D vitamin levels.
MATERIALS and METHODS:
Syrian and Iraqi immigrant children whose blood 25(OH)D levels were checked in hospitals in the province of Ankara in Turkey between the dates of 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2018. Vitamin levels of 25(OH)D were classified as <12 ng/mL deficiency, 12-20 ng/mL insufficiency, >20 ng/mL normal.
INTRODUCTION:
Recent studies have suggested that vitamin D deficiency in immigrant children is widespread.The aim of this study was to establish the correlation between vitamin D levels, age, gender, diagnosis, and nationality of Syrian and Iraqi immigrant children with vitamin D deficiency.
Keywords: Immigrant Children, Vitamin D, Vitamin D Deficiency
