STUDY OF SERUM VITAMIN D LEVELS IN SEVERE ACUTE MALNUTRITION AND MODERATE ACUTE MALNUTRITION CHILDREN FROM 6 MONTHS TO 59 MONTHS OF AGE: A HOSPITAL BASED STUDY

Abstract

Background: Vitamin D plays several important roles in the metabolism and absorption of other minerals in the body.\nVitamin D de\uf001ciency is a world-wide epidemic with recent estimates indicating that greater than 50 % of the global\npopulation is at risk. Protein-energy malnutrition is likely to be associated with vitamin D intake de\uf001ciency. The main objective of study was to\nevaluate vitamin D levels among children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) and moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) children from 6\nmonths to 59 months of age. The present study was undertaken in 60 children diagnosed as Material and Methods: SAM, MAM with\ncomplications and admitted to NRC (Nutrition Rehabilitation Centre). SAM and MAM were classi\uf001ed according to the WHO classi\uf001cation.\nVitamin D levels was done among the admitted children and classi\uf001ed according to the classi\uf001cation as de\uf001cient (Vitamin D level <20ng/ml),\ninsuf\uf001cient (Vitamin D level between 21-29ng/ml) and suf\uf001cient (Vitamin D level >30ng/ml). Out of 60 children included in the study Results:\n50 (83%) were classi\uf001ed as SAM and 10 (17%) were classi\uf001ed as MAM. Out of 60 children 16 (32%) SAM and 3 (30%) MAM children were\nfound to have de\uf001cient Vitamin D levels (<20ng/ml), 17 (34%) SAM and 4(40%) MAM children found to have insuf\uf001cient Vitamin D levels\n(between 21-29 ng/ml), and 17(34%) SAM and 3(30%) MAM children found to have suf\uf001cient Vitamin D levels (>30 ng/ml). All children were\ngiven Vitamin D supplementation according to guidelines. The mean vitamin D level was 25.4 ng/ml. The high prevalence of Conclusion:\nVitamin D de\uf001ciency in malnourished children underlines the need for active surveillance and aggressive management.