Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency in International Adoptees Within the First 6 Months After Adoption
CLIN PEDIATR December 2013 vol. 52 no. 12 1149-1153
Kimara L. Gustafson, MD, MPH1
Judith K. Eckerle, MD1
Cynthia R. Howard, MD1
Beth Andrews, RN1
Lynda E. Polgreen, MD, MS1
1 University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
Lynda E. Polgreen, Pediatric Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, East Building, Room MB671, 2450 Riverside Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA. Email: polgr001 at umn.edu
Background. Vitamin D deficiency impairs bone health and development.
Objective. To determine the prevalence of and risk factors for vitamin D deficiency in pediatric international adoptees.
Methods. A prospective cohort (N = 189) study from a single international adoption clinic was conducted.
Total 25-hydroxy vitamin D [25(OH)D] level was measured at the initial clinical assessment (within 6 months of adoption).
Vitamin D deficiency was defined as a 25(OH)D <20 ng/mL (<8 nmol/L) and insufficiency as 25(OH)D <30 ng/mL (<12 nmol/L).
Vitamin D Life: Something wrong here: probably meant to state < 20ng (50nmol)
Results. Vitamin D deficiency was diagnosed in 8% and insufficiency in 27% of the cohort.
Lower body mass index and longer time in an institution were associated with vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency independent of age.
Conclusions. Vitamin D insufficiency was common in our cohort of international adoptees.
The significance of vitamin D insufficiency on bone development during the typical “catch-up” growth following international adoption needs to be determined.