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Prevalence of 25‐hydroxyvitamin D deficiency in child and adolescent patients undergoing hematopoietic cell transplantation compared to a healthy population
Author(s) -
Simmons Jill,
Sheedy Craig,
Lee Haerin,
Koh Shan,
Alvarez JoAnn,
Koyama Tatsuki,
Friedman Debra
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
pediatric blood and cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.116
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1545-5017
pISSN - 1545-5009
DOI - 10.1002/pbc.24684
Subject(s) - medicine , vitamin d and neurology , vitamin d deficiency , population , pediatrics , body mass index , transplantation , gastroenterology , hematopoietic cell , haematopoiesis , stem cell , environmental health , biology , genetics
Background Pediatric patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) are at risk for low bone mineral density, which may due, in part, to low 25‐hydroxyvitamin D levels. Procedure We compared the serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D status of 22 pediatric HCT patients with 100 healthy pediatric controls. We determined the prevalence of and risk factors for 25‐hydroxyvitamin D insufficiency and deficiency. Results Serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D levels were lower in the pediatric HCT patients at time of transplant than healthy pediatric controls (median 19.5 ng/ml vs. 31.0 ng/ml, P < 0.001). Of HCT patients, 27% were 25‐hydroxyvitamin D deficient (<15 ng/dl) and 68% insufficient (15–29 ng/dl), compared with 4% and 40%, respectively, of healthy pediatric controls ( P < 0.001). In multivariable analysis, treatment with HCT, decreased ambient ultraviolet light exposure, non‐Caucasian race, and older age were associated with decreased serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D levels. No association was found between 25‐hydroxyvitamin D levels and gender, body mass index, dietary vitamin D intake, or patient‐reported vitamin D supplementation. Few patients in either group reported sunscreen use, vitamin D supplementation, or recommended dietary vitamin D intake. Conclusions At time of transplant, pediatric HCT patients frequently have 25‐hydroxyvitamin D insufficiency/deficiency, and this occurs more commonly than in the healthy pediatric population. HCT patients rarely follow recommended guidelines to take supplemental vitamin D, consume the Recommended Daily Allowance for vitamin D, or regularly use sunscreen. Further studies are needed to determine whether vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency persists long term in HCT patients and requires dietary and behavioral interventions. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2013;60:2025–2030. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.