Prevalence and Correlates of Vitamin D Deficiency in Children Aged Less than Two Years: A Cross-Sectional Study from Aseer Region, Southwestern Saudi Arabia

Serum Vitamin D Profiles of Children with Asthma in Southwest Saudi: A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study

Background

Evidence suggests a strong association between vitamin D status and asthma, with individuals exhibiting vitamin D deficiency demonstrating increased prevalence and severity of asthma symptoms. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among asthmatic children, assess the association between vitamin D status and asthma severity/control, and identify potential predictors of vitamin D deficiency in this population.

Patients and Methods

This comparative cross-sectional, hospital-based study was conducted at Abha Maternity and Children's Hospital, a tertiary care and teaching institution in southwestern Saudi Arabia, between January 2023 and May 2024.

Results

A total of 331 asthmatic children and 101 non-asthmatic children were analyzed. Children with asthma had significantly lower serum vitamin D levels than those without asthma (21.5 ± 8.8 ng/mL vs 33.3 ± 13.2 ng/mL, p < 0.001). Significantly higher proportions of asthmatic children exhibited vitamin D deficiency (51.1%) and insufficiency (34.7%) compared to non-asthmatic children (19.8% and 29.7%, respectively). Serum vitamin D levels among asthmatic children showed significant negative correlations with age (r = -0.332, p < 0.001), weight (r = -0.292, p < 0.001), height (r = -0.298, p < 0.001), and BMI (r = -0.274, p < 0.001). These findings were further supported by univariate linear regression analysis. Multivariable analysis additionally confirmed age (β = -0.66, p < 0.001) and BMI (β = -0.25, p = 0.05) as independent predictors of vitamin D status, with older age and higher BMI associated with lower vitamin D levels. For each additional year of age, serum vitamin D decreased by an average of 0.66 ng/mL (p < 0.001) and a one-unit increase in BMI was associated with a decrease of 0.25 ng/mL in serum vitamin D (p = 0.05).

Conclusion

This study found a strikingly high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among asthmatic children in southwestern Saudi Arabia, significantly exceeding rates in controls. These findings underscore the need for widespread vitamin D screening and supplementation in this population, particularly among older, overweight asthmatic children.

Continuing benefits of the Montreal Protocol and protection of the stratospheric ozone layer for human health and the environment

The protection of Earth's stratospheric ozone (O3) is an ongoing process under the auspices of the universally ratified Montreal Protocol and its Amendments and adjustments. A critical part of this process is the assessment of the environmental issues related to changes in O3. The United Nations Environment Programme's Environmental Effects Assessment Panel provides annual scientific evaluations of some of the key issues arising in the recent collective knowledge base. This current update includes a comprehensive assessment of the incidence rates of skin cancer, cataract and other skin and eye diseases observed worldwide; the effects of UV radiation on tropospheric oxidants, and air and water quality; trends in breakdown products of fluorinated chemicals and recent information of their toxicity; and recent technological innovations of building materials for greater resistance to UV radiation. These issues span a wide range of topics, including both harmful and beneficial effects of exposure to UV radiation, and complex interactions with climate change. While the Montreal Protocol has succeeded in preventing large reductions in stratospheric O3, future changes may occur due to a number of natural and anthropogenic factors. Thus, frequent assessments of potential environmental impacts are essential to ensure that policies remain based on the best available scientific knowledge.

Seasonal Variations in 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Levels among Pediatric Patients Attending the Healthcare Centre

Vitamin D plays an essential role in maintaining bone density, building the immune system, and regulating cell growth alongside other key biological functions. Limited data are available about the seasonal variation in vitamin D levels in the pediatric population in Saudi Arabia. This study aimed to investigate the seasonal influence on the pediatric circulating levels of 25(OH)D. A total of 1790 pediatric outpatients who visited the University healthcare centre were included in this study. Overall, there was a noticeably high prevalence (69%) of both combined 25(OH)D deficiency and insufficiency. The highest mean serum concentration of 25(OH)D was recorded in summer (29 ng/mL) and autumn (27 ng/mL). The deficient and insufficient categories were predominant, accounting for 33% and 36%, respectively. Comparable patterns were recorded during autumn, winter, and spring. Interestingly, the 25(OH)D level was significantly associated with the four seasons (p = 0.001), with females having a higher prevalence of 25(OH)D deficiency in the spring and summer than males. Furthermore, only in autumn and winter, we found a significant association between gender and 25(OH)D status (p < 0.001 for both). Another association between nationality and the circulating levels 25(OH)D was found during autumn and winter (p < 0.001 and p = 0.01), respectively. In all seasons, age had a negative impact on serum (OH)D levels. However, this relationship was statistically significant (p < 0.05) only in summer, autumn, and winter. Gender was a significant predictor, with 25(OH)D levels in autumn and winter and an odds ratio of 1.67 in autumn and 2 in winter, indicating that being men had a positive influence on circulating 25(OH)D levels. There were highly significant differences in 25(OH)D concentrations among different age categories. The Saudi population experiences low levels of vitamin D, particularly in autumn and winter periods. This study showed that seasonality, age category, nationality, and gender influence vitamin D status, suggesting the need for tailored intervention and monitoring of 25(OH)D status to reach adequate levels of vitamin D. Healthcare practitioners and policymakers may consider the interplay between age, nationality, gender, and seasonal variations when addressing vitamin D status and a targeted supplementation approach for high-risk groups that may develop health issues.

Population-Level Nutritional Well-Being: Nutrition Security and Equitability

Nutrition is essential to sustaining the quality of life and a fundamental right of all people [...]

Knowledge and Attitudes towards Vitamin D among Health Educators in Public Schools in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Health educators in schools are a very important part of the education system. Considering the significant prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, it is important to investigate the knowledge of and attitude towards vitamin D among health educators. This study aims to examine the knowledge of and attitude towards vitamin D among health educators in public schools in Jeddah as well as to identify the associated sociodemographic factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted between May and December 2021 among 231 health educators. Data were collected via a self-administered online questionnaire. The results revealed that only 45% of health educators had good knowledge of vitamin D, and approximately 43% had a positive attitude towards vitamin D. Additionally, those who had good knowledge of vitamin D were males (58.7%) (p = 0.005) and had a bachelor's degree (74%) (p = 0.01). Moreover, male health educators aged 45-54 years had a positive attitude towards vitamin D (3.8 ± 0.7) (p = 0.007). In addition, female health educators who were divorced (3.8 ± 0.7) and widowed (3.6 ± 0.5) (p = 0.04) and those who were administrators (3.3 ± 0.7) (p = 0.01) had a positive attitude towards vitamin D. The Ministry of Education (MOE) in the Kingdom must educate health educators through educational programmes that aim to increase the knowledge of and develop a positive attitude towards vitamin D intake.

Smoking Exposure Is Associated with Serum Vitamin D Deficiency in Children: Evidence from the Japan Environment and Children’s Study

Tobacco smoke exposure is known to lower serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations. This study evaluated the association between passive smoking and vitamin D deficiency (VDD) in young children using data from the Japan Environment and Children’s Study (JECS), the largest birth cohort study in Japan. Information on parental smoking status was extracted from a survey of JECS for children aged 1.5 years and data for serum 25(OH)D concentrations were obtained from blood tests in the Sub-Cohort Study of JECS performed at age 2 years. Logistic regression and linear models were fitted to evaluate the association between these variables. Data were analyzed for 4593 children. After adjusting for covariates, smoke exposure was significantly associated with increased incidence of VDD (OR 1.35; 95% CI, 1.14–1.59) according to the logistic model. The linear model indicated that passive smoking negatively predicted de-seasonalized serum 25(OH)D concentrations (β −0.5; 95% CI −0.95 to −0.08) in children aged 2 years. The results suggest that smoke exposure is a risk factor for VDD in children. Given that VD plays a crucial role in bone metabolism and the immune system, our findings are significant for clinical and public health.