Pediatrics & Therapeutics
Open Access

Abstract

Vitamin D Status in Pediatric Patients with Osteogenesis Imperfecta

Muayad Kadhim, Laurens Holmes, Michael B. Bober, Kenneth J. Rogers, Anthony Kallur, Lauren Davey and Richard W. Kruse

Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) is a heterogeneous genetic disorder causing skeletal fragility. Although there is increasing awareness about the important role of vitamin D in pediatric bone health, specific data regarding vitamin D status are limited and sometimes unavailable in children with musculoskeletal disorders, such as OI. In this study, we aimed to examine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency, insufficiency and sufficiency in children with OI. We used a retrospective cohort (case-only) study of 61 children diagnosed with OI. The study variables were analyzed using descriptive statistics. 25-hydroxyvitamin D serum levels less than 20 ng/ml were considered deficient, levels between 20–32 ng/ml were considered insufficient, and levels more than 32 ng/ml were considered sufficient. Sixty one patients (31 boys, 30 girls) were classified according to Sillence type (type I, n = 31; type III, n = 14; and type IV, n = 16). Overall, vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency were identified in approximately half of the patients (50.9%). Vitamin D sufficiency was observed in the majority of infants and toddlers from birth to 3 years (n=13, 56.5%) and in children aged 4–10 years (n=12, 57.1%). A minority of children over the age of 10 were vitamin D sufficient (n=5, 29.4%). The majority of Caucasian patients (n=26, 54.2%) were vitamin D sufficient. Sufficient vitamin D levels were more prevalent among type I OI patients (n =19, 61.3%). Type III patients were found to have an equal prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency (n=6, 42.9%) and sufficiency (n=6, 42.9%). Vitamin D insufficiency was most prevalent in type IV (n=8, 50). Patients with an elevated BMI had a higher prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency (n=4, 57.1%). Further studies are recommended to clarify the relationship between vitamin D serum level and BMI in OI patients.