Vitamin D Status in Turkish Children During the Covid-19 Pandemic; A Single Center Experience

Abstract

Objective: COVID-19-related lockdown decreased the children's exposure to sunlight, and they were susceptible to 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] deficiency. The present study aimed to examine the 25(OH)D levels 2 years before and during the first year of the pandemic. Materials and Methods: This study included children who underwent health checks between the equivalent period during 2018 October–2020 March, and they were categorized according to the date vitamin D was checked; 2018 October -2019 March (Group 1), 2019 October and 2020 March (Group 2), 2020 October, and 2021 March (Group 3). We compared the children’s 25(OH)D levels and vitamin D deficiency rates between Groups 1, 2, and 3. Results: We found that the mean of the children's 25(OH)D levels was lower during COVID-19 than in the last two years before the pandemic (p=0.039). The present study showed that the rates of 25(OH)D deficiencies among ages 0-1, and 4-7 were higher during the pandemic than before (p= 0.013, p=0.011). Conclusion: Reduced sunbathing time during confinement is associated with lower 25(OH)D levels among children aged 4–7. Although increased rates of 25(OH)D deficiency in infants are worrying.