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Vitamin D Deficiency in Children with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

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Abstract

Background

Osteopenia and osteoporosis are commonly seen in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Vitamin D deficiency potentially contributes to diminished bone acquisition in childhood.

Objectives

The objectives of this study were to assess vitamin D in a group of Australian children with IBD and to ascertain associations between vitamin D status and key clinical factors, for example disease location and severity.

Methods

Data were obtained retrospectively from the records of children with IBD who had at least one measurement of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) over a two-year period. Demographic variables, disease activity, inflammatory markers, disease location, duration, and therapy were recorded. Moderate and severe deficiency were defined as 25(OH)D <51 nmol/l and <30 nmol/l, respectively. Insufficiency was defined as 25(OH)D between 51 and 75 nmol/l.

Results

Overall, the mean 25(OH)D level in 78 children (104 measurements) was 71.2 (SD ± 26.5) nmol/l. Fifteen (19%) children were vitamin D deficient and 30 (38%) children were insufficient. Levels of 25(OH)D were not associated with disease location or use of immunosuppressive drugs. Children with vitamin D deficiency had greater corticosteroid exposure than those with normal status (P = 0.001). The mean 25(OH)D of 38 children treated with nutritional therapy at diagnosis was higher than for 17 children initially treated with corticosteroids (P = 0.04).

Conclusions

A high proportion of these Australian children with IBD were vitamin D deficient. This emphasizes the importance of monitoring vitamin D status, and treating deficiency, in the management of pediatric IBD. The possible benefit of nutritional therapy in protection against vitamin D deficiency requires further prospective study.

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Acknowledgments

Funding for this study was received in part from the Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation.

Conflict of interest

The authors have no conflicts to declare.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Women’s & Children’s Health, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Alon D. Levin, Veena Wadhera, Steven T. Leach, Daniel A. Lemberg & Andrew S. Day

  2. Department of Endocrinology, Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Helen J. Woodhead & A. Czarina Mendoza-Cruz

  3. Department of Gastroenterology, Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Daniel A. Lemberg & Andrew S. Day

  4. Department of Paediatrics, University of Otago (Christchurch), P.O. Box 4345, Christchurch, 8140, New Zealand

    Andrew S. Day

Authors
  1. Alon D. Levin
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  2. Veena Wadhera
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  3. Steven T. Leach
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  4. Helen J. Woodhead
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  5. Daniel A. Lemberg
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  6. A. Czarina Mendoza-Cruz
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  7. Andrew S. Day
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Andrew S. Day.

Additional information

Alon D. Levin and Veena Wadhera contributed equally.

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Levin, A.D., Wadhera, V., Leach, S.T. et al. Vitamin D Deficiency in Children with Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Dig Dis Sci 56, 830–836 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-010-1544-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-010-1544-3

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