ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Rickets in Healthy Adolescents in Van,
the Eastern of Turkey
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Yüzüncü Yıl University, Faculty of
Medicine,Van, Turkey
Publication date: 2010-01-12
Corresponding author
Murat Doğan
Hafiziye Mah, Kazım Karabekir Sok.
Uğur Sitesi D Blok, Kat 4, No 9
65100 Van, Türkiye
Eur J Gen Med 2010;7(1):69-75
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
Aim: To investigate the ratio of rickets and vitamin D deficiency
in healthy adolescents at Van region.
Method: Totally 126 cases were included in this study. All cases were
evaluated for the presence of rickets symptoms, daily sun exposure,
and vitamin usage, covering and eating habit. Diagnosis of rickets was
made based on biochemical findings. The children whose vitamin D
levels were lower than 10 ng/dl were accepted as vitamin 25(OH)D3
deficiency, but whose levels between 10-20 ng/dl were accepted as
vitamin D insufficiency.
Result: Sixty girls (47.6%) and 66 boys (52.4%) were included in this
study. They were between 9 and 17 years old (11.94 ± 1.9 years).
Vitamin D levels in 60 (47.6%) cases were normal, but 48 (38.1%) cases
had rickets, 13 (10.3%) cases had vitamin D insufficiency and 5 (4.0%)
cases had vitamin D deficiency. There was no statistically significant
difference in the incidence of rickets between the cases with or
without covered-dress. However, there was a significant difference
in the incidence of vitamin D insufficiency (p<0.05). All of the cases
had less daily calcium, phosphorus, protein and vitamin D intake than
recommended daily amount. In the rickets group, alkaline phosphatase
levels were significantly higher comparing with the others (p<0.05),
but there was no difference in plasma intact parathyroid hormone
levels.
Conclusion: Our findings revealed that most adolescents who
appeared to be healthy (52.4%) could have vitamin D insufficiency.
Therefore, we believe that dietary education and/or vitamin D
prophylaxis might be given to all adolescents. However, more
extensive researches should be done to elucidate of our suggestion’s
correction