Alfacalcidol improves the growth velocity in children with vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency: A single center retrospective cohort study

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the growth velocity-improving effects of vitamin D replacement therapy in pediatric patients diagnosed with vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study was conducted in 34 pediatric patients diagnosed with vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency. Based on the clinical findings, the subjects were divided into two groups: a bowed leg (BL) group and a non-bowed leg (non-BL) group. After the initiation of alfacalcidol, the standard deviation score (SDS) of their heights, weights and growth velocities in each group were monitored. RESULTS: The median age at the first visit was significantly lesser in the BL group (1.58 years old [interquartile range (IQR): 1.33, 2.17]) than that in the non-BL group (3.00 years old [IQR: 2.33, 3.67]). On the contrary, the SDS for height was significantly lower in the non-BL group (-2.27 [IQR: -2.63, -1.94]) than that in the BL group (-1.37 [IQR: -1.91, -1.07]). One-year treatment with alfacalcidol showed significant improvements in both height SDSs and growth velocity SDSs not only in the BL group but also in the non-BL group. CONCLUSIONS: The current study revealed that vitamin D replacement therapy improved the growth rate in children with vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency, regardless of the presence of BL. This study emphasizes the importance of assessing the vitamin D status in children with poor growth rates and suggests that alfacalcidol could be a valid option for the treatment of short stature.