TY - JOUR
T1 - Vitamin D status of socioeconomically deprived children in Kabul, Afghanistan
AU - Manaseki-Holland, Semira
AU - Mughal, M. Zulf
AU - Bhutta, Zulfiqar
AU - Shams, M. Qasem
PY - 2008/1
Y1 - 2008/1
N2 - Background: Cultural, environmental, and diet-related factors were postulated to lead to a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Kabul's socioeconomically deprived children under 5 years of age. We investigated the prevalence of plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) deficiency in such a group. Methods: Children between 6 months and up to 5 years of age were randomly sampled in the Chindawal area of Kabul in January 2005. Plasma samples were frozen to below -20° C and 25(OH)D3 concentrations estimated by high-pressure liquid chromatography. Results: For all 107 children tested, the median plasma 25(OH)D concentration was 5 ng/mL with a range of 2-24 ng/mL; 73% had concentrations of < 8 ng/mL; 13 other samples were not analyzed due to insufficiency of plasma, staff, or technical problems. About 35 others approached either did not give consent or blood could not be obtained. Conclusions: This study was conducted in a high-risk population at a peak season for vitamin D deficiency. We conclude that this population of children living in Kabul to be at great risk of developing vitamin D deficiency, rickets, and other possible immunological effects of deficiency.
AB - Background: Cultural, environmental, and diet-related factors were postulated to lead to a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Kabul's socioeconomically deprived children under 5 years of age. We investigated the prevalence of plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) deficiency in such a group. Methods: Children between 6 months and up to 5 years of age were randomly sampled in the Chindawal area of Kabul in January 2005. Plasma samples were frozen to below -20° C and 25(OH)D3 concentrations estimated by high-pressure liquid chromatography. Results: For all 107 children tested, the median plasma 25(OH)D concentration was 5 ng/mL with a range of 2-24 ng/mL; 73% had concentrations of < 8 ng/mL; 13 other samples were not analyzed due to insufficiency of plasma, staff, or technical problems. About 35 others approached either did not give consent or blood could not be obtained. Conclusions: This study was conducted in a high-risk population at a peak season for vitamin D deficiency. We conclude that this population of children living in Kabul to be at great risk of developing vitamin D deficiency, rickets, and other possible immunological effects of deficiency.
KW - Afghanistan
KW - Children less than 5 years
KW - Vitamin D concentrations
KW - Vitamin D deficiency
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=48749113861&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1024/0300-9831.78.1.16
DO - 10.1024/0300-9831.78.1.16
M3 - Article
C2 - 18654949
AN - SCOPUS:48749113861
SN - 0300-9831
VL - 78
SP - 16
EP - 20
JO - International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research
JF - International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research
IS - 1
ER -
