Vitamin D Status in Children With Forearm Fractures: Incidence and Risk Factors

Vitamin D Levels During Fracture Healing in Children

To evaluate vitamin D levels in children treated with fractures during the healing period. A four-year prospective study, including healthy children treated with diaphyseal fracture of femur or forearm bones. Vitamin D levels were examined four times: at the time of the injury and then one, three, and five months after the injury, together with P1NP, ALP, GGT, and parathormone. In the beginning, patients were blindly divided into two groups, one supplemented with vitamin D3 for the entire follow-up period, the other non-supplemented. Altogether, 107 children underwent examination at the time of their injuries. Of these, 63 were included in the study and examined for the entire follow-up period - 36 supplemented, 27 non-supplemented. At the time of injury, 42 % had a deficit of vitamin D, 36.5 % had insufficiency, only 21.5 % had normal levels. In the children supplemented with cholecalciferol, vitamin D levels increased statistically significantly during the follow-up period (already after 1 month), in contrast with non-supplemented patients, where they did not. When we divided patients according to the initial vitamin D levels (deficit/insufficiency/normal levels) or fracture type (femur/forearm), we also observed significantly better results in supplemented groups. We observed a high prevalence of vitamin D deficit or insufficiency in healthy children at the time of their injuries. Patients supplemented with vitamin D3 had normal levels already after one month and this persisted throughout the follow-up period, in contrast with non-supplemented patients. Therefore, we recommend vitamin D testing and administration for children treated for fractures. Keywords: Vitamin D, Pediatric fracture, Children, Vitamin D supplementation.

Vitamin D Supplementation and Its Impact on Different Types of Bone Fractures

Vitamin D helps to balance the levels of calcium and phosphorus to maintain proper bone structure. It is also involved in essential biological roles and displays a wide spectrum of potential benefits in the human body. Since there are many types of fractures that occur at specific ages and due to different circumstances, the influence of vitamin D on the frequency of a particular fracture may differ. Thus, the authors investigated the possible preventive effect of vitamin D on the risks of vertebral fractures, hip fractures, stress fractures and pediatric fractures. Additional aspects of vitamin D, especially on recuperation after injures and its impact on the severity of particular fractures, were also discussed. It was suggested that vitamin D supplementation may contribute to a reduction in hip fracture risk due to reduced bone turnover, decreased frequency of falls and improved muscle function. Furthermore, vitamin D appears to lower the risk of stress fractures in athletes and military recruits. Due to a nonunified protocol design, presented investigations show inconsistencies between vitamin D supplementation and a decreased risk of vertebral fractures. However, a vitamin D preventive effect on pediatric fractures seems to be implausible.

Vitamin D and Forearm Fractures in Children Preliminary Findings: Risk Factors and Correlation between Low-Energy and High-Energy Fractures

Background: The forearm is the most common fracture site in childhood, accounting for every fourth pediatric fracture. It is well described that vitamin D is involved in the regulation of bone mineralization and skeletal homeostasis by the regulation of calcium absorption. The aim of our study was to determine the influence of 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels on forearm fracture falls in a pediatric population, depending on level of energy impact. Additionally, we also aimed to evaluate the correlation between 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and other tested risk factors for pediatric fractures. Methods: We evaluated 50 eligible children aged 3 to 12 years with a forearm fracture. According to energy impact, patients were grouped into low-energy fractures (LEF) and high-energy fractures (HEF) groups. The general characteristics of the patients included age, gender, sport participation, and fractured bone and its localization. We analyzed 25-hydroxyvitamin D, parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcium, magnesium, phosphate, C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, and body mass index (BMI). Results: There is a significant difference in the 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels distribution between LEF and HEF (p < 0.001) and PTH levels (p = 0.002). For magnesium levels, calcium levels, phosphate levels, and CRP levels, there were no significant differences in their frequency distribution. For the group of patients with LEF, there is a significantly positive correlation between 25-hydroxyvitamin D and calcium levels (p = 0.019) and a borderline significantly positive correlation between 25-hydroxyvitamin D and magnesium levels (p = 0.050). For the group of patients with HEF, there was only a significantly positive correlation between 25-hydroxyvitamin D and PTH levels (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Children with LEF were more frequently insufficient in 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels but had normal calcium levels, compared to the ones with HEF. These findings suggest that LEF and HEF in children might to a certain degree have different pathophysiological mechanisms.