Context: Peripubertal and adolescent children are vulnerable to vitamin D deficiency as this is the period of rapid skeletal growth.
Aims: This study was done to assess the vitamin D status in school children between the age of 8-14 years attending the government schools in rural and urban areas of Assam in Northeast India.
Settings and design: This was a cross-sectional observational study.
Materials and methods: About 500 students (350 from rural and 150 from urban areas) were recruited in the study. Serum 25-hydroxy vitamin-D [25(OH)D], parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase were measured in fasting state. Daily nutrition intake and sunlight exposure were assessed.
Statistical analysis: Student's t-test and Pearson correlation test were done to assess the association between different variables. P value <0.05 was considered significant.
Results: The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was 8.4% and vitamin D insufficiency was 14.2%. There was no significant difference of mean 25(OH)D levels and sun exposure between rural and urban children. Out of 42 children with vitamin D deficiency, 36 (85.7%) had sun exposure <20% and 41 (97.6%) had calcium intake < 1000 mg/day. The rural children had a higher calcium intake as compared to urban children (P = 0.005). There was a significant positive correlation of mean 25(OH)D levels with serum calcium, sun exposure and calcium intake.
Conclusion: The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in peripubertal and adolescent age group children in and around Guwahati city of Assam is comparatively lower than that in other parts of the country.
Keywords: Guwahati; school children; vitamin D.