Status of Serum Vitamin D among Bangladeshi Children: Urban and Rural Settings

Abstract

Vitamin D plays role in regulating cell growth, maintenance of body immunity, healthy musculoskeletal structure and functioning other various biological activities in keeping people healthy. This study was a part of a community based cross sectional study which was conducted among 274 primary school children. Two primary schools were selected purposively (one from Dhaka city and one from Gazipur district). The male and female ratio was equal. The mean age of the students was 8.86 ± 2.035 years. Majority of the children were within 5 -10 years (73.7%) and rest were within 10 -14 years. The male and female ratio was equal. Among the participants 28.8% were in class I, 20.1% were in class II, and 16.4% were in class III, 17.9% in class IV and rest 16.8% were in class V. Among the study participants 48.2% were of rural areas and 51.8% were from urban area. Standardized anthropometric measurements of body weight and height were made by trained nurses. Venous blood was collected by trained phlebotomist. Estimation of serum vitamin D was done in one reference laboratory. It was found that 60.6%rural respondents had below 20 ng/ml of serum Vitamin D, while none of urban children had below 50ng/ml of Serum Vitamin D. Mean value is significantly different between rural and urban children (p < 0.05). On the other hand 26.3% of male and 32.1% female children had Serum Vitamin D below 20 ng/ml. No such statistical difference was observed between male and female. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency especially among rural school going children in Bangladesh is very high and alarming which needs to explore the root cause.

The Higher Fatality Rate of Children from COVID-19 in Bangladesh Is it Ethnicity or Malnutrition or Else?

“…21 It is to be noted here that, prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among Bangladeshi children are very high. [22][23][24] We still don't know why children population in Bangladesh is more vulnerable to Covid-19 infection including severity and mortality. Our personal experience in Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University shows that; among the patients attending in the fever clinic, about 6% of confirmed COVID cases were children below 18 years.…”