Vitamin D Status and Scholastic Achievement in Middle Age Childhood

Abstract

Non-classical effects of vitamin D are not surprising in that many tissues, including neurons, possess vitamin D receptors. Thirty school aged children with delayed scholastic achievement and 15 normal ones were enrolled in the current study to identify the serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D [25(OH) D] status in school aged children in relation to their scholastic achievement. Besides estimation of serum 25(OH) D levels, neuro-developmental assessment was done using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) and the Benton's Visual Retention Test (BVRT). Serum 25(OH) D was significantly lower in children with delayed scholastic achievement. Picture completion scores were significantly lower in children with deficient and inadequate serum 25(OH) D. There were positive correlations between serum 25(OH) D level and values of WISC. Regarding BVRT results, good memory was associated with adequate serum 25(OH) D. In conclusion, serum 25(OH) D is deficient in children with delayed scholastic achievement causing affection of memory and learning process. Larger scale studies using learning assessment tools are thus recommended to further prove this point and search the impact of vitamin D supplementation on the school achievement in this age group.