Kuter H, et al. – This cross–sectional study was carried out to determine the vitamin D status of gastrostomy–fed children. Findings indicated that in the majority of children with special needs, nutritionally complete gastrostomy feeds might be protective against vitamin D deficiency. The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) recommended 10 g (400 IU) of vitamin D for all children over one year of age.

Methods

• In this study, vitamin D status was measured in 32 children aged five to 16 years recruited from special schools in Manchester, UK (53° 48' N).
• All children were receiving a nutritionally complete, commercially prepared enteral feed via gastrostomy, and had been established on this regimen for over 12 months.
• At the end of winter, serum concentrations of 25 hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) were measured.
• Children with serum concentrations of 25OHD >50nmol/L were considered to be sufficient, and those with concentrations <25nmol/L were considered to be deficient.

Results

• Investigations revealed that 83% of subjects had sufficient concentrations of serum 25OHD (>50nmol/L).
• One subject was vitamin D deficient (serum 25OHD <25nmol/L) and four were vitamin D insufficient (serum 25OHD >25nmol/L – <50nmol/L).
• The median vitamin D derived from enteral feeds was 9.45 g/day; range 3.5–30.
• 13 children (41%) received less than 10 g of vitamin D per day from their enteral feed.