EVALUATION OF VITAMIN D LEVELS IN ADOLESCENTS AND CHILDREN ACCORDING TO AGE, SEX AND SEASONAL CHARACTERISTICS

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of our study was to determine whether vitamin D deficiency was present in adolescents and children who admitted to our hospital; to determine whether there is a difference between 25-hydroxy (25-OH D) vitamin D levels according to age, sex and seasons Materials and Methods: Between the years 2018-2019, 4.153 adolescents and children who admitted to our Pediatric Outpatient Clinic between winter and summer months. 25-0H D vitamin D levels were determined according to age, sex, and seasons. Serum 25-OH D level<20 ng/ml was accepted as severe insufficiency, 20-30 ng/ml insufficiency, >100 ng/ml toxicity. The data were evaluated by the SPSS 22.0 program. One- way variance analysis test and student t-test were used in the evaluation of the data. p<0.05 was considered significant. Results: 55.23% of the population in our study was female. The 25-OH D level in girls was 17.29 ± 11.50 ng/ml. In males, it was found to be 19.16 ± 10.68. The mean 25-OH D level was found 18.13 ± 11.18 ng / mL. In our study, the frequency of vitamin D deficiency was found to be 44.80%. While the frequency of vitamin D deficiency was 57.11% in winter, it was found to be 42.89% in summer. Vitamin D levels show statistically significant differences according to gender, age-range, and season of hospital admittance. Vitamin D levels are lower in adolescent age groups than in child age groups. Conclusion: In our study, severe vitamin D deficiency was found in adolescents and children. Vitamin D levels in children and adolescents varied depending on sex, age, and season.