Lower Level of Plasma 25-Hydroxyvitamin D in Children at Diagnosis of Celiac Disease Compared with Healthy Subjects: A Case-Control Study

• Published in: The Journal of pediatrics Vol. 228; pp. 132 - 137.e1
• Main Authors: Lionetti, Elena, Galeazzi, Tiziana, Dominijanni, Vera, Acquaviva, Ilaria, Catassi, Giulia N., Iasevoli, Mario, Malamisura, Basilio, Catassi, Carlo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.01.2021
• Subjects: Case-Control Studies; Celiac Disease - blood; Celiac Disease - complications; Celiac Disease - diagnosis; Child; Child, Preschool; controls; deficiency; Female; Humans; Male; Nutritional Status; pediatric celiac disease; Risk Factors; Seasons; vitamin D; Vitamin D - analogs & derivatives; Vitamin D - blood; Vitamin D Deficiency - blood; Vitamin D Deficiency - etiology; pediatric celiac disease; controls; 25-OHD; deficiency; GFD; vitamin D; ESPGHAN; BMI
• ISSN: 0022-3476; 1097-6833; 1097-6833
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2020.08.089

To evaluate the vitamin D status of children with a new diagnosis of celiac disease compared with healthy controls. This was a case-control study. Cases were consecutive children with newly diagnosed celiac disease. Controls were healthy children matched for age, sex, ethnicity, and month of blood testing. Plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) was measured as the index of vitamin D nutritional status. The Student t test was used for comparisons. Differences in frequencies were evaluated with the χ2 test. Associations between variables were estimated by calculating Pearson correlation coefficients. There were 131 children with celiac disease enrolled (62% females; mean age 8.1 ± 1.1 years). The control group included 131 healthy children (62% females; mean age 8.2 ± 1.2). All were of European origin. Plasma 25-OHD levels were significantly lower in patients than in controls (25.3 ± 8.0 and 31.6 ± 13.7 ng/mL; P < .0001). The percentage of children with vitamin D deficiency (<20 ng/mL) was significantly higher in children with celiac diseaseas compared with controls (31% vs 12%; P < .0001). The concentration of 25-OHD was significantly lower in patients than in controls during summer (P < .01) and autumn (P < .0001). In this case-control study, at diagnosis, children with celiac disease showed lower levels of plasma 25-OHD compared with healthy subjects. Vitamin D status should be checked at diagnosis of celiac disease, particularly during summer and fall months.