BACKGROUND: Vitamin D deficiency is being recognized as a pandemic due to the volume of people affected by the deficiency and the number of illnesses generated or stimulated by the deficiency. There is a lack of consensus in the literature on what is considered vitamin D deficiency [25(OH)D]. OBJECTIVE: This review brings together the most common levels of 25(OH)D found in healthy schoolchildren and what is considered deficient. METHODS: This systematic review was based on the literature accessed from the electronic databases: MEDLINE, EMBASE, LILACS, SCOPUS and WEB OF SCIENCE. The following descriptors were used in English, Portuguese and Spanish: “Vitamin D”; “Vitamin D deficiency”; “Nutritional Supplements” as well as all their synonyms. The meta-analysis was performed considering the random model. Inclusion criteria: healthy children aged 6 to 12 years, studies that had vitamin D levels, defined vitamin D deficiency. RESULTS: Of the 191 potentially eligible articles, only six articles were included, with 2618 students in total. The mean value of 25(OH)D was estimated at 18.11 ng/mL with 95% confidence interval. Among the articles found, three were considered deficiency levels below 20 ng/mL, one considered below 18 ng/mL, another below 15 ng/mL, and the latter below 11 ng/ mL. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among the articles was 48.6%, 7%, 98%, 64.63%, 19.5%, 28.4%, according to each classification used by the same. CONCLUSION: The most common definition in the literature of 25(OH)D deficiency in schoolchildren was at levels below 20 ng/mL. No side effects have been reported in studies that used fortification and/or vitamin D supplementation. Daily supplementation is more effective than seasonal supplementation. However, more studies are needed to define what can be considered as optimal levels of 25(OH)D in children.

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BACKGROUND: Vitamin D is an essential fat-soluble steroid hormone and vitamin D deficiency is a global public health problem especially among children and adolescents. Factors such as the low intake of vitamin D-rich food sources, poor absorption and less exposure to the sun influence this outcome. Vitamin D has an anti-inflammatory effect in the body by promoting regulatory T cell differentiation as well as recovering T helper 17 cell response and secretion of anti-inflammatory cytokines. Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic disease, histologically characterized by predominantly eosinophilic inflammation. The most common therapeutic approaches are allergen-eliminating diets, such as excluding cow’s milk, egg, soy, wheat, peanuts and seafood, or more specific dietary restrictions. OBJECTIVE: To verify the serum levels of vitamin D in children and adolescents with eosinophilic esophagitis on a restricted food diet and to analyze their association with nutritional status, consumption of different food sources, exposure to the sun and skin color. METHODS: Case-control study conducted in the city of Campinas-SP, Brazil, in which included patients were aged 2 to 18 years old, and those diagnosed with eosinophilic esophagitis was referred to as the case group (n=15), meanwhile a control group (n=17) was also formed. Epidemiological data, nutritional status, data on vitamin D intake (24-hour recall - performed only by EoE patients - and self-reported intake of vitamin D food sources: milk and dairy products, canned tuna and sardines, Bull’s liver, chicken eggs - applied in both groups), and daily time of sun exposure (≥30 min or ≤30 min) were recorded. The samples were collected for serum levels of 25-hydroxy-vitamin D, where sufficiency levels >30 ng/mL were considered, insufficiency 21 to 30 ng/mL, deficiency <20 ng/mL. RESULTS: There was a higher frequency of vitamin D insufficiency/ deficiency in the Eosinophilic Esophagitis group (P=0.035), even with longer sun exposure (P= 0.035). Skin color was not associated with lower levels of vitamin D in both groups studied. No difference was found in nutritional status between the groups. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrated a higher frequency of inadequate/ deficient levels of vitamin D in children and adolescents with EoE on a restricted diet. When necessary, serum levels should be investigated and correct exposure to the sun should be encouraged, with special attention to the recommended guidelines, time spent in the sun and the appropriate clothing for correct absorption. Since exposure for more than 30 minutes in the sun does not appear to have provided a protective effect in the EoE group, even in a region with high levels of solar radiation. There was a significant difference only in the consumption of cow’s milk between the case and control groups, demonstrating the low adherence to the restriction diet by the case group. No association was found between serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D levels and nutritional status. Moreover, no association regarding the adequate or inadequate status of 25 hydroxyvitamin D and the consumption vitamin D-rich foods was identified. Multicentered studies with a larger number of cases should be performed to assess serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D levels and associated factors in pediatric patients with EoE.

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Aim: Tetraparetic Cerebral Palsy (TCP) patients may present risks factors for Vitamin D deficiency such as increased risk of malnutrition and possibly infrequent sun exposure. The present study aimed to compare the vitamin D status in this population of TCP pediatric patients (Case Group) and compare them with healthy children and adolescents (Control Group). Methods: The clinical data obtained were: gender, age, weight, height, nutritional status, consumption of vitamin D food sources, sun exposure and serum levels of vitamin D. Vitamin D deficiency was defined as 20 ng/mL or less of 25(OH)D; “insufficiency” was defined as between 21-29 ng/mL; “sufficiency” was defined as between 30-100 ng/mL.1 Results: Sixty patients aged 3 to 20 years old were divided into two groups: the Control Group (n=30) and the Case Group (n=30) composed of individuals with TCP. Vitamin D levels did not differ between groups; the mean levels were 26.65 ng/mL (SD: 10.51) in the Case Group and, 28.93 ng/mL (SD: 9.26) in the Control Group. Conclusion: There was no difference identified between vitamin D levels among TCP and control patients, and no relationship between risk factors and serum 25(OH)D levels was observed. Even though Brazil is a tropical country with abundant sunshine during most of the year, there is still a considerable number of individuals with vitamin D classifications of insufficiency and deficiency in our study (N= 34/60). This should be alarming for healthcare professionals who work with the pediatric population, which is a population at risk for the development of disability.