High prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency in Chinese children with upper limb fractures

This study aimed at investigating the vitamin D status of pediatric patients with upper limb fractures and finding out the influences of age, gender, season and fracture sites. 695 patients were admitted for upper limb fractures between November 1st 2014 and October 31st 2015. 224 healthy children were included during the same period. Serum 25(OH)D was measured at the time of visit and their demographic data were recorded. Generally fracture patients had significant lower vitamin D level than the healthy children. The average serum 25(OH)D of the patients was 24.5 ng/ml, compared to 28.1 ng/ml in healthy children. Vitamin D status worsened with the increase of age and adolescents had a deficiency rate of as high as 68.6%. Gender and fracture sites had no influence on vitamin D level. This study revealed high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency in pediatric patients with upper limb fractures. Adolescents had such high rate of vitamin D deficiency that called for vast attention.