Impaired Height Growth Associated with Vitamin D Deficiency in Young Children from the Japan Environment and Children’s Study
Vitamin D is essential for calcium absorption and bone homeostasis. Although short-stature children were reported to have low vitamin D concentrations, there is no clear evidence of a link between vitamin D and height growth in young children not limited to those with short stature. We collected hei...
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MDPI AG
2022-08-01
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| Series: | Nutrients |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14/16/3325 |
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| author | Shohei Kuraoka Masako Oda Hiroshi Mitsubuchi Kimitoshi Nakamura Takahiko Katoh Japan Environment and Children’s Study (JECS) Group |
| author_facet | Shohei Kuraoka Masako Oda Hiroshi Mitsubuchi Kimitoshi Nakamura Takahiko Katoh Japan Environment and Children’s Study (JECS) Group |
| author_sort | Shohei Kuraoka |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Vitamin D is essential for calcium absorption and bone homeostasis. Although short-stature children were reported to have low vitamin D concentrations, there is no clear evidence of a link between vitamin D and height growth in young children not limited to those with short stature. We collected height and weight data at 2 and 4 years of age, serum vitamin D concentrations at 4 years, and questionnaire results on sun exposure from the Japan Environment and Children’s Study (JECS). We then analyzed the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and height growth. We also analyzed the correlation between serum vitamin D concentration and sun exposure. Overall, 3624 participants from JECS were analyzed. We identified cases of subclinical vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency. We further found that definitive vitamin D deficiency (<10 ng/mL) impaired height growth by 0.6 cm per year even in young children not limited to those with short stature. Furthermore, we clarified that children with vitamin D deficiency had reduced outdoor activity, especially during winter. In children with either short or normal stature, definitive vitamin D deficiency was associated with height growth decline, and reduction in outdoor activity, especially during winter, was a risk factor for vitamin D deficiency. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:00:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-82802ae6ffbb4bfe9f25bb3d80084e6b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6643 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:00:31Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nutrients |
| spelling | doaj.art-82802ae6ffbb4bfe9f25bb3d80084e6b2023-12-03T14:14:14ZengMDPI AGNutrients2072-66432022-08-011416332510.3390/nu14163325Impaired Height Growth Associated with Vitamin D Deficiency in Young Children from the Japan Environment and Children’s StudyShohei Kuraoka0Masako Oda1Hiroshi Mitsubuchi2Kimitoshi Nakamura3Takahiko Katoh4Japan Environment and Children’s Study (JECS) GroupThe South Kyushu Okinawa Unit Center, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, 1-1-1 Honjo, Kumamoto 860-8556, JapanThe South Kyushu Okinawa Unit Center, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, 1-1-1 Honjo, Kumamoto 860-8556, JapanThe South Kyushu Okinawa Unit Center, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, 1-1-1 Honjo, Kumamoto 860-8556, JapanThe South Kyushu Okinawa Unit Center, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, 1-1-1 Honjo, Kumamoto 860-8556, JapanThe South Kyushu Okinawa Unit Center, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, 1-1-1 Honjo, Kumamoto 860-8556, JapanVitamin D is essential for calcium absorption and bone homeostasis. Although short-stature children were reported to have low vitamin D concentrations, there is no clear evidence of a link between vitamin D and height growth in young children not limited to those with short stature. We collected height and weight data at 2 and 4 years of age, serum vitamin D concentrations at 4 years, and questionnaire results on sun exposure from the Japan Environment and Children’s Study (JECS). We then analyzed the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and height growth. We also analyzed the correlation between serum vitamin D concentration and sun exposure. Overall, 3624 participants from JECS were analyzed. We identified cases of subclinical vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency. We further found that definitive vitamin D deficiency (<10 ng/mL) impaired height growth by 0.6 cm per year even in young children not limited to those with short stature. Furthermore, we clarified that children with vitamin D deficiency had reduced outdoor activity, especially during winter. In children with either short or normal stature, definitive vitamin D deficiency was associated with height growth decline, and reduction in outdoor activity, especially during winter, was a risk factor for vitamin D deficiency.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14/16/3325vitamin Dheight growthsun exposurechild health |
| spellingShingle | Shohei Kuraoka Masako Oda Hiroshi Mitsubuchi Kimitoshi Nakamura Takahiko Katoh Japan Environment and Children’s Study (JECS) Group Impaired Height Growth Associated with Vitamin D Deficiency in Young Children from the Japan Environment and Children’s Study Nutrients vitamin D height growth sun exposure child health |
| title | Impaired Height Growth Associated with Vitamin D Deficiency in Young Children from the Japan Environment and Children’s Study |
| title_full | Impaired Height Growth Associated with Vitamin D Deficiency in Young Children from the Japan Environment and Children’s Study |
| title_fullStr | Impaired Height Growth Associated with Vitamin D Deficiency in Young Children from the Japan Environment and Children’s Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impaired Height Growth Associated with Vitamin D Deficiency in Young Children from the Japan Environment and Children’s Study |
| title_short | Impaired Height Growth Associated with Vitamin D Deficiency in Young Children from the Japan Environment and Children’s Study |
| title_sort | impaired height growth associated with vitamin d deficiency in young children from the japan environment and children s study |
| topic | vitamin D height growth sun exposure child health |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14/16/3325 |
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