Thompson RM, et al. – This study compared 25(OH)D between fractured and nonfractured cohorts in order to shed light on the role of vitamin D in fracture risk in children. According to findings, there exists a link between higher fracture incidence and serum 25(OH)D insufficiency and hence, vitamin D should be routinely assessed in fractured children.

Methods

• Researchers performed a 12-month prospective case-control study in children aged 2 to 14 years in an urban, academic hospital.
• They compared 60 fractured children requiring conscious sedation or general anesthesia for management with 60 nonfractured controls.
• They also surveyed all participants and their guardians for low bone density risk factors, and total serum 25(OH)D was measured.
• Statistical analysis was completed using Student t tests, Χ² tests, analysis of variance, and logistic regression models.

Results

• Findings demonstrated that after controlling for age and daily sun exposure, lower total serum 25(OH)D was associated with higher fracture risk (odds ratio=0.94; 95% confidence interval, 0.90-0.99; P=0.023).
• Researchers observed that in the fractured cohort, 6 (10%) patients were deficient (25(OH)D<20 ng/mL) and 33 (55%) were insufficient (25(OH)D, 20 to 30 ng/mL).
• They noted that, of the nonfractured population, 8 (13%) were deficient and 19 (32%) were insufficient.
• In addition, data reported that there were more insufficient patients in the fractured than in the nonfractured cohort (odds ratio=2.99; 95% confidence interval, 1.27-7.0; P=0.037).