Prevalence of Vitamin D insufficiency in children with cystic fibrosis

Abstract

Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin, most commonly recognized for its importance in regulating serum electrolyte levels, particularly calcium and phosphate, along with its role in muscle development and bone 1 growth in children, specifically. Its insufficiency has emerged as common problem across many age 2 groups. Multiple sources in literature have shown that Vitamin D deficiency has a high prevalence in the , pediatric population.³ ⁴ Vitamin D insufficiency remains a stringent cause of concern in pediatric patients diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis. Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency is well known for causing malabsorption of fat soluble. It is commonly seen in cystic fibrosis patients, therefore putting this patient population at risk of developing deficiencies of 5,6 fat soluble vitamins including Vitamin D. Vitamin D deficiency has been seen to be proportional to an increase in morbidity and mortality, due to a higher risk of decline in pulmonary function, increased occurr-