Vitamin D Status Is Associated With Underweight And Stunting In Children Aged 6-36 Months Residing In The Ecuadorian Andes

Objective: There is limited knowledge on vitamin D status of children residing in the Andes and its association with undernutrition. We evaluated the vitamin D status of children residing in a low socio-economic status (SES) setting in the Ecuadorian Andes and assessed the association between vitamin D status, stunting and underweight. We hypothesized that children who were underweight would have lower serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels and lower 25(OH)D levels would be associated with a higher risk of stunting.Design: We conducted a cross-sectional secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial, the Vitamin A, Zinc and Pneumonia study. Children had serum 25(OH)D concentrations measured. A sensitivity analysis was undertaken to determine a vitamin D cut-off specific for our endpoints. Associations between serum 25(OH)D and underweight (defined as weight-for-age Z-score <= -1) and stunting (defined as height-for-age Z-score <= -2) were assessed using multivariate logistic regression.Setting: Children residing in five low-SES peri-urban neighbourhoods near Quito, Ecuador.Subjects: Children (n 516) aged 6-36 months.Results: Mean serum 25(OH)D concentration was 58.0 (SD 17.7) nmol/l. Sensitivity analysis revealed an undemutrition-specific 25(OH)D cut-off of <42-5 nmol/l; 18.6% of children had serum 25(OH)D < 42.5 nmol/l. Children who were underweight were more likely to have serum 25(OH)D <42.5 nmol/l (adjusted OR (aOR). 2.0; 95% CI 1.2, 3.3). Children with low serum 25(OH)D levels were more likely to be stunted (aOR = 2.8; 95% CI 1.6, 4.7).conclusions: Low serum 25(OH)D levels were more common in underweight and stunted Ecuadorian children.