High Prevalence of Hypovitaminosis D among Schoolchildren of Shimla in Himachal Pradesh

Title of the article: High prevalence of hypovitaminosis D among schoolchildren of Shimla in Himachal Pradesh. Context: Acquisition of optimal bone mineral health in childhood and adolescence is essential for adequate bone mass during adulthood and old age, as 40-50% of total skeletal mass is accumulated so early in life. Aims: To estimate the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among the school children of Shimla Settings and Design: A total of 300 children and adolescents of class V1 to X11 of various schools in Shimla were enrolled during July 1, 2015 to September 30, 2015. Methods and Material: After written informed consent, blood samples for 25(OH) D were collected and measured by radioimmunoassay. Statistical analysis: Data analyzed the data using EpiInfo 7.0.9.7 for windows. Results: Among all enrolled cases, 151(50.33%) were girls and 149 (49.76%) boys. Serum 25(OH) D level was significantly lower in girls 11.70± 4.03ng/ml as compared to boys 13.57 ±7.06ng/dl (p=0.0000001). Hypovitaminosis D was present in 98.66% cases, out of which 93.33% had deficient and 5.33% had insufficient 25 (OH) D levels. A total of 34.33% children had severe deficiency, however 4 (1.33%) had sufficient levels and were boys. Conclusions: Prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in apparently healthy schoolchildren in India is high. Awareness needs to be generated about benefits accrued by direct sunlight exposure.