Vitamin D Deficiency as a Nutritional Child Health Determinant

• Main Author: Maguire, Jonathon Lee
• Other Authors: Parkin, Patricia C.
• Language: en_ca
• Published: 2009
• Subjects: Vitamin D deficiency; Child Health; 0766; 0570; 0758
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1807/18903

Objective: This thesis aims to construct a framework for studying vitamin D deficiency in young Canadian children. Methods: A practice based research network was created to collect vitamin D data from children 1-5 years of age in Toronto, Canada (TARGet Kids!). A cross-sectional pilot study was completed and a larger study proposed to determine the prevalence and predictors of low vitamin D. Results: The prevalence of low vitamin D (<50nmol/L) in the pilot study was 32% (29/92, 95% CI: 22-42%). Using multivariable linear regression, lower vitamin D level was associated with lower milk volume, higher BMI and watching TV during snacks. A larger study involving 2400 children 1-5 years of age has been proposed. Interpretation: Pilot data has suggested that 30-80% of toddlers in this setting have low vitamin D. A study to clarify these findings and form the basis of a large longitudinal vitamin D cohort has been proposed.