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High prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in Sicilian children affected by growth hormone deficiency and its improvement after 12 months of replacement treatment

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Abstract

Purpose

Although the correlation between vitamin D and growth hormone (GH)-insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) axis is documented, as of date, few and conflicting studies have prospectively analyzed vitamin D before and after GH treatment. Our aim was to evaluate as to how the condition of GH deficiency (GHD) or GH treatment influences vitamin D in children.

Methods

Eighty Sicilian GHD children (M/F 58/22; mean age 10.3 years), grouped according to the season of evaluation in group A (June–September; 41 children) and group B (November–February; 39 children), were evaluated at baseline and after 12 months of GH treatment.

Results

Twenty-eight children (35 %) were vitamin D insufficient and 32 (40 %) deficient at baseline, and lower vitamin D levels were found in group B than in A (17.3 ± 5.3 vs. 31.1 ± 11.1 ng/ml; p < 0.001). A positive correlation between vitamin D and baseline GH levels (p < 0.001) was found. After 12 months, increased vitamin D was found both in all children (34.4 ± 16.4 vs. 24.5 ± 11.1 ng/ml; p = 0.002) and in group A (38.5 ± 14 vs. 31.1 ± 11.1 ng/ml; p < 0.001) and B (30 ± 17.7 vs. 17.3 ± 5.3 ng/ml; p < 0.001). Overall, only 25 (31 %) children remained insufficient and 15 (19 %) deficient, with an increase in prevalence of children with normal levels (p = 0.001).

Conclusions

Our data demonstrated a very high prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in Sicilian GHD children, with an improvement after 12 months of GH treatment. Vitamin D assessment should therefore be considered routinely in GHD children both at diagnosis and during the follow-up.

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Acknowledgments

This research did not receive any specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sector.

Conflict of interest

All authors declare that there is no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the research reported.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Section of Endocrinology Diabetology and Metabolism, Biomedical Department of Internal and Specialistic Medicine (Di.Bi.M.I.S.), University of Palermo, Piazza delle Cliniche 2, 90127, Palermo, Italy

    A. Ciresi, F. Cicciò & C. Giordano

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  1. A. Ciresi
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  2. F. Cicciò
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  3. C. Giordano
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Correspondence to C. Giordano.

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Ciresi, A., Cicciò, F. & Giordano, C. High prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in Sicilian children affected by growth hormone deficiency and its improvement after 12 months of replacement treatment. J Endocrinol Invest 37, 631–638 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40618-014-0084-7

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