Abstract
Background: Vitamin D deficiency is widespread among the children worldwide. Most of the third world countries have the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency, especially among the children. Unfortunately very less research work has been conducted on this subject and Bangladesh is no exception to this. Vitamin D deficiency among the Bangladeshi children has not been investigated at a level that could bring the phenomenon to the fore of the concerned stakeholders and policy makers.
 Objective: To assess the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among children in Kaliakoir Upazila, Gazipur District, Bangladesh.
 Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in children aged 0 month to <18 years attending Upazila Health (pediatrics) Complex and community clinics with minor illness. After obtaining informed written consent, venous blood was taken and serum 25(OH) D levels were determined by direct enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Serum 25(OH) D was categorized as deficient (<10 ng/mL), insufficient (10–29 ng/mL) and sufficient (30–100 ng/mL).
 Results: Deficient serum 25(OH) D level was found in 30.15% infants of up to one year age group, 35% in 2–5 years, 35.21% in 6–11 years and 37.21% in 12–16 years age group. Insufficient level was found in 52.38% in infants up to one year, 50% in 2–5 years, 54.93% in 6–11 years and 59.30% in 12–16 years age group.
 Conclusion: The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency among children in rural Bangladesh is high. The study recommends that vitamin D supplementation in rural Bangladeshi children should be formally launched from first day of birth up to minimum adolescence.
 J Enam Med Col 2020; 10(2): 93-98
Highlights
Once foods were fortified with vitamin D and rickets appeared to have been conquered, many health care professionals thought the major health problems resulting from vitamin D deficiency had been resolved
The study found that almost 80% children are vitamin D deficient where the study applied the definition of vitamin deficiency [25(OH)D
From this finding we can say that the vitamin D status of children in Bangladesh is poor
Summary
Once foods were fortified with vitamin D and rickets appeared to have been conquered, many health care professionals thought the major health problems resulting from vitamin D deficiency had been resolved. Vitamin D deficiency in adults can precipitate or exacerbate osteopenia and osteoporosis, cause osteomalacia and muscle weakness, and increase the risk of fracture. Most of the third world countries have the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency, especially among the children. Vitamin D deficiency among the Bangladeshi children has not been investigated at a level that could bring the phenomenon to the fore of the concerned stakeholders and policy makers. Objective: To assess the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among children in Kaliakoir Upazila, Gazipur District, Bangladesh. Results: Deficient serum 25(OH) D level was found in 30.15% infants of up to one year age group, 35% in 2–5 years, 35.21% in 6–11 years and 37.21% in 12–16 years age group. Conclusion: The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency among children in rural Bangladesh is high. The study recommends that vitamin D supplementation in rural Bangladeshi children should be formally launched from first day of birth up to minimum adolescence
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