Vitamin D Status and Analysis of Specific Correlates in Preschool Children: A Cross-Sectional Study in Southern Croatia

Abstract

Vitamin D deficiency is a globally important problem, particularly in children, but there is a lack of information regarding this deficiency in preschool children from southeastern Europe. This study aimed to establish the levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and associations of gender, time spent outdoors, physical activity (PA), and body mass index (as predictors) with the 25(OH)D level (outcome) in healthy preschool children. The participants were preschoolers (all 5–6 years of age) from southern Croatia. All the participants were tested during their mandatory medical examination 6–7 months prior to school enrollment. The PA was obtained using the preschool-age physical activity questionnaire (Pre-PAQ), which categorizes PA into five levels (from sedentary to vigorous PA). The prevalence of 25(OH)D deficiency was high: 58% of the children had 25(OH)D levels of <50 nmol/L (deficiency), and an additional 29% had an insufficient level of 25(OH)D (50–75 nmol/L). Boys had higher levels of 25(OH)D than girls. A multinomial regression using 25(OH)D categories as the outcome and a sufficient level (>75 nmol/L) as the reference value identified gender as the only significant predictor of 25(OH)D status, with boys being at lower risk for 25(OH)D deficiency than girls. These results showed a high prevalence of 25(OH)D deficiency in preschoolers from the southern part of Croatia, which is additionally alarming based on the geographical position of the studied region (42° N) and its high number of sunshine hours (>2600 h per year). Future studies examining other potential correlates of 25(OH)D in the region are warranted.

Physical Activity, Body Mass, and Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet in Preschool Children: A Cross-Sectional Analysis in the Split-Dalmatia County (Croatia)

“…In this study, L1 and L2 are combined to represent stationary activity. The Pre-PAQ was professionally translated into the Croatian language, and for this investigation, it was completed by the child’s parent [31].…”

Association of Vitamin D Intervention and outdoor activity on serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D among children in North China: an observational study

“…Despite of high incidence of hypovitaminosis D among children living in high latitudes was found in previous studies [36] , few of them focused on related improvements. Approximately 30% of the total world population lives from 40° N to 60°N.…”

Association of serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D with Vitamin D Intervention and outdoor activity among children in North China: an observational study

“…Numerous programs or health policies for vitamin D intervention are available in almost all countries to prevent vitamin D de ciency or hypovitaminosis D in children [32][33][34][35] . In the guidelines aforementioned, latitudes was found in previous studies [36] , few of them focused on related improvements. Approximately 30% of the total world population lives from 40° N to 60°N.…”