Assessing the Relationship Between 25-Hydroxy Vitamin D3 Deficiency with Forearm Fracture in 2 to 15 Year-Old Children

Abstract

Objectives: Fractures are prevalent injuries in children. Forearm fractures include 25% of children fractures. Although low level of 25 (OH) vitamin D3 is related with less bone density and more risk of fractures due to osteoporosis in adults, not enough data are available on the relationship between decreased levels of 25 (OH) vitamin D3 and the risk of forearm fracture in children.
Methods: The current observational, analytic study included 30 children within the age range of 2 to 15 years with the verified fracture of both forearm bones. The recorded data included age, gender, the broken hand, and the educational status of parents. Moreover, the levels of serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D3, calcium, and phosphorus were measured in all subjects. The normal children (n = 54) without the history of fracture were considered as controls.
Results: The case group consisted of 21 males (70%) and 9 females (30%) and control group included 28 males (51.9%) and 26 females (48.1%). The mean age of the children with and without forearm fractures was 6.8 ± 3.17 and 6.96 ± 3.57 years, respectively. There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of gender, age, the broken hand, and father’s education (P > 0.05). Serum 25 (OH) vitamin D3 level was 17.22 ± 13.42 ng/mL for the case group and 17.88 ± 11.21 ng/mL for the control group. These levels for serum calcium and phosphorus were 9.88 ± 0.44 and 5.02 ± 0.56 mg/dL for the cases, and 9.64 ± 0.44 and 4.72 ± 0.72 mg/dL for the controls, respectively (P > 0.05).
Conclusions: The results of the current study showed no relationship between the levels of serum vitamin D, calcium, and phosphorus as well as age, gender, broken hand, and parents` educational status and fracture of both bones of forearm. Larger studies with more variables are recommended.