Serum Level of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D and Symptoms of Pica Among Adolescent School Children in Northern Sudan: A Cross-Sectional Study

Mohamed A Ahmed; Abdullah Al-Nafeesah; Ashwaq AlEed; Ishag Adam

doi:10.1177/2333794X241242564

Serum Level of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D and Symptoms of Pica Among Adolescent School Children in Northern Sudan: A Cross-Sectional Study

Glob Pediatr Health. 2024 Apr 3:11:2333794X241242564. doi: 10.1177/2333794X241242564. eCollection 2024.

Authors

Mohamed A Ahmed¹, Abdullah Al-Nafeesah², Ashwaq AlEed², Ishag Adam³

Affiliations

¹ University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan.
² Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Qassim University, Buraidah, Saudi Arabia.
³ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, Qassim University, Buraidah, Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

Objectives. To assess levels of 25(OH)D among adolescents with symptoms of pica in northern Sudan. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted in North Sudan. Questionaries were used to collect adolescents' sociodemographics. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure 25(OH)D level. Results. Of the 344 adolescents enrolled, 161 (46.8%) and 183 (53.2%) were male and female, respectively and 103 (29.9%) had symptoms of pica. The median (IQR) of 25(OH)D level was significantly lower in adolescents with symptoms of pica. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that while age (coefficient = 1.1, P = .023) was positively associated with 25(OH)D level, female sex (coefficient = -7.5, P < .001), and pica symptoms (coefficient = -3.5, P = .032) were negatively associated with 25(OH)D level. Conclusion. Adolescents with symptoms of pica had lower 25(OH)D levels. Adolescents with symptoms of pica have to be assessed for vitamin D status.

Keywords: 25(OH)D; Pica; adolescent; age; body mass index; female; vitamin D.