Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Levels Among US Children Aged 1 to 11 Years: Do Children Need More Vitamin D?

OBJECTIVE: Single-center studies suggest corrected that hypovitaminosis D is widespread. Our objective was to determine the serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) in a nationally representative sample of U.S. corrected children ages 1-11 corrected years. METHODS: Data were obtained from the 2001-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). corrected Serum 25(OH)D levels was corrected determined by radioimmunoassay and categorized as <25 nmol/L, corrected <50 nmol/L, corrected and <75 nmol/L. National estimates were obtained by using assigned patient visit weights and reported with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). corrected RESULTS: During corrected 2001-2006, the mean serum 25(OH)D level for U.S. children ages 1 to 11 years was 68 nmol/L (95% CI, corrected 66-70). Children ages 6-11 corrected years had lower mean levels of 25(OH)D (66 nmol/L 95% CI, corrected 64-68) compared to corrected children ages 1-5 corrected years (70 nmol/L 95% corrected CI, 68-73). corrected Overall, the prevalence of <25 nmol/L corrected was 1% (95% CI, 0.7-1.4), <50 nmol/L was 18% (95% CI, corrected 16-21), and <75 nmol/L was 69% (95% CI, corrected 65-73). The prevalence of corrected 25(OH)D corrected <75 nmol/L was higher among ages corrected 6-11 corrected years (73%) compared to ages corrected 1-5 corrected years (63%); females corrected (71%) compared to males corrected (67%); and non-Hispanic black (92%) and Hispanic (80%) corrected compared to corrected non-Hispanic whites corrected (59%). CONCLUSIONS: Based on corrected a nationally representative sample of U.S. children aged 1-11 corrected years, millions of children may have suboptimal levels of 25(OH)D, especially non-Hispanic black and Hispanic children. More data in children are needed not only to understand better the health implications of specific serum levels of 25(OH)D but also to determine the appropriate vitamin D supplement requirements for children.