Low vitamin D levels among children and adolescents in an Arctic population.

Abstract

We aimed to study the vitamin D status of the population of Arkhangelsk, a city in northwestern Russia. A cross-sectional study was conducted to estimate serum 25(OH)D concentrations in Arkhangelsk residents, including 55 neonates and their mothers, 214 children <3 years, 191 schoolchildren (7-8 years), 403 adolescents (13-17 years), 260 university students (18-22 years) and 85 adults (24-60 years). The data were collected from March 2013 to November 2014 and from January 2016 to May 2016. Normal levels of 25(OH)D (>30 ng/ml) were found in 5% of neonates, 43% of their mothers, 43% of children <3 years, 9% of schoolchildren, 1% of adolescents, 17% of students and 26% of adults. There was a moderate positive correlation (rs = 0.563, p = 0.001) between 25(OH)D levels in mother's blood and umbilical cord blood. Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in the population of Arkhangelsk, particularly in neonates, schoolchildren and adolescents.