Vitamin D Insufficiency in Children in Great Britain
Author Information
Author(s): Michael Absoud, Carole Cummins, Ming J. Lim, Evangeline Wassmer, Nick Shaw
Primary Institution: University of Birmingham
Hypothesis
What are the prevalence and predictors of vitamin D insufficiency in children in Great Britain?
Conclusion
Vitamin D insufficiency is prevalent in children, especially among adolescents and non-white children, indicating a need for targeted prevention strategies.
Supporting Evidence
- 35% of children had insufficient vitamin D levels.
- Adolescents had a 3.6 times higher risk of vitamin D insufficiency compared to younger children.
- Non-white children had a 37 times higher risk of vitamin D insufficiency compared to white children.
- Children on income support had lower vitamin D levels.
- Less outdoor exercise and more TV watching were associated with higher risk of vitamin D insufficiency.
Takeaway
Many kids in Great Britain don't get enough vitamin D, especially older kids and those with darker skin, so we need to help them get more.
Methodology
A nationally representative cross-sectional survey of children aged 4–18 years, collecting data on dietary habits, physical activity, and blood samples.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the study being set in 1998 and not externally validated in different populations.
Limitations
The study was conducted in 1998, and the prevalence of risk factors may have changed since then; also, sunscreen data was not available.
Participant Demographics
Children aged 4–18 years, predominantly white (999 out of 1102), with 570 males.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Confidence Interval
95% CI 60.4–63.7
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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