Correlation Between Nutritional Status and Serum Vitamin D Level in Children

Abstract

Introduction : Vitamin D has various essential roles in the physiological functions of the body. The incidence of vitamin D insufficiency in Indonesia is 49.3%. Malnourished children tend low serum vitamin D levels due to impaired synthesis. Children with poor nutrition have less subcutaneous tissue and are more often at home so they are rarely exposed to sunlight.. Aim : To assess the correlation between nutritional status and serum vitamin D level in children. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in outpatient and inpatient pediatric services at H. Adam Malik Hospital from March to October 2020. Sample characteristics were obtained through interviews with parents and the results of anthropometric measurements and vitamin D levels of the study sample. Results: Of the 60 children consisting of 30 children with well-nourished and 30 malnourished, the average serum vitamin D level was 19.38 ng/mL, with normal 35%, insufficiency 43.3%, and deficiency 21.7%. The Chi-Square test showed a significant relationship between nutritional status and vitamin D levels (p=0.02) and a prevalence ratio of 1.6 with 95% CI. Conclusion:Positive association between nutritional status and serum vitamin D level in children was found in this study.