Should We Assess Vitamin D Status in Pediatric Patients With Celiac Disease?

Objectives: Screening for vitamin D status in celiac disease (CD) has been recommended but the literature provides varying support. We sought to assess the vitamin D status in newly diagnosed children with CD and in a non‐CD control population and relate them to vitamin D intake. Methods: In a cross‐sectional study, s erum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D (25‐OHD) levels were drawn in children with newly diagnosed CD and compared with pediatric outpatients with functional abdominal complaints. Anthropometric data as well as vitamin D intake based on milk and multivitamin ingestion were collected. Results: Thirty‐eight newly diagnosed CD patients (10.4 ± 3.0 years old; 50% girls) and 82 controls (11.2 ± 4.2 years old; 58.5% girls) were studied. Both groups were similar except for average daily D intake and BMI. There was no statistical difference in mean 25‐OHD levels between CD (26.4 ± 8.0 ng/mL) and controls (23.5 ± 8.2 ng/mL) [ P  ≤ 0.07]. Both groups had high percentages of suboptimal D status (65.8% CD and 79.3% controls). 25‐OHD levels significantly correlated with age ( r  = −0.262; P  < 0.0038) and estimated vitamin D intake ( r  = 0.361; P  < 0.0001). Conclusions: No significant difference in 25‐OHD levels was noted between newly diagnosed CD and controls, but inadequate 25‐OHD levels were common in both. 25‐OHD levels were highly associated with vitamin D intake demonstrating similar vitamin D absorption between patients and controls. As CD is associated with bone disease and D status is frequently low, efforts at optimizing D, such as screening levels at diagnosis need to be conducted.