Abstract
BackgroundVitamin D is an essential element for body health with its supplements generally administered to prevent vitamin D deficiency. Since these supplements are available in domestic settings, vitamin D toxicity may happen in children.MethodsAll children younger than 12 years who presented to the pediatric emergency department of Loghman Hakim Hospital, Tehran, Iran with history of ingestion of more than 1500 IU/day of vitamin D supplements were enrolled. Patients’ demographic data, on-presentation signs and symptoms, laboratory findings, treatments given, and outcome were evaluated.ResultFifteen patients presented during the study period. Their mean age was 46.53 ± 10.14 months and 12 (80%) were girls. All of them had unintentionally ingested vitamin D. Mean ingested dose was 406700.7 ± 227400.1 IU. In eight patients (53.3%), 25 hydroxy vitamin D level was more than 100 ng/mL. One patient experienced hypercalcemia while all of them were asymptomatic and discharged without complications. There was no significant difference between patients with and without high levels of 25 OH vitamin D regarding lab tests, toxicity course, and outcome.ConclusionsIt seems that acute vitamin D toxicity is a benign condition in our pediatric population which may be due to high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Iran.
Highlights
Vitamin D is an essential element for body health with its supplements generally administered to prevent vitamin D deficiency
It seems that acute vitamin D toxicity is a benign condition in our pediatric population which may be due to high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Iran
Recommended dose of vitamin D supplements is reported to be 400 International Unit (IU) in infants, 600 IU in people younger than 70 years of age, and 800 IU in people over 70 [26,27,28,29]. Since studies in this regard are lacking in children, we aimed to assess all children with vitamin D toxicity referring to a tertiary referral center of toxicology during a year
Summary
Vitamin D is an essential element for body health with its supplements generally administered to prevent vitamin D deficiency. Since these supplements are available in domestic settings, vitamin D toxicity may happen in children. Due to issues including heavy clothing, air pollution, reduced exposure to direct sunlight, inadequate nutrition, and lack of access to vitamin D-rich food especially among children, vitamin D deficiency is a common health problem in our country [13,14,15]. Consumption of vitamin D containing supplements is encouraged in Iran during the recent years making them more available for unintentional poisonings in children the frequency of poisoning with these supplements is still low compared to other poisonings in them. Vitamin D toxicity may happen as a result of inappropriate dose administration by physicians or errors in manufacturing or unlicensed vitamin D preparations [21,22,23,24,25]
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