Fat-soluble vitamin deficiency in children with cystic fibrosis in NSW

Abstract

Aims To evaluate fat-soluble vitamin status and prothrombin time (PT) in children with cystic fibrosis (CF) aged <18 years in NSW and to assess rates of deficiency from 2007-2010. Methods A retrospective analysis of fat-soluble vitamin levels and PT in children aged <18 years who lived in NSW and attended any of the three paediatric CF centres from 2007-2010. An audit of demographic and clinical data during the first vitamin level measurement of the study period was performed. Results Deficiency of one or more fat-soluble vitamins was present in 240 of 530 children (45%) on their first vitamin test in the study period. The prevalence of vitamin D and E deficiency fell from 22.11% to 15.54% and 20.22% to 13.89%, respectively, from 2007-2010. The prevalence of vitamin A deficiency increased from 11.17% to 13.13%. Vitamin K was measured infrequently. Prolonged PT was common. Low vitamin levels were associated with poor clinical status. Discussion This is the first study to measure vitamin K and PT in Australian children with CF, and one of few studies of fat-soluble vitamin deficiency in children with CF in Australia. Further studies are needed to continue monitoring rates of vitamin deficiency in the CF community. To evaluate fat-soluble vitamin status and prothrombin time (PT) in children with cystic fibrosis (CF) aged <18 years in NSW and to assess rates of deficiency from 2007-2010. A retrospective analysis of fat-soluble vitamin levels and PT in children aged <18 years who lived in NSW and attended any of the three paediatric CF centres from 2007-2010. An audit of demographic and clinical data during the first vitamin level measurement of the study period was performed. Deficiency of one or more fat-soluble vitamins was present in 240 of 530 children (45%) on their first vitamin test in the study period. The prevalence of vitamin D and E deficiency fell from 22.11% to 15.54% and 20.22% to 13.89%, respectively, from 2007-2010. The prevalence of vitamin A deficiency increased from 11.17% to 13.13%. Vitamin K was measured infrequently. Prolonged PT was common. Low vitamin levels were associated with poor clinical status. This is the first study to measure vitamin K and PT in Australian children with CF, and one of few studies of fat-soluble vitamin deficiency in children with CF in Australia. Further studies are needed to continue monitoring rates of vitamin deficiency in the CF community.