European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Study title:  A retrospective study on impact of covid pandemic on vitamin D levels in children aged 6 months to 12 yearsin post covid era
Aims: To determine the severity of deficiency and the presenting features
Introduction: Vitamin D insufficiency affects almost 50% of the population worldwide. An estimated 1 billion people worldwide, across all ethnicities and age groups, have a vitamin D deficiency (VDD). This pandemic of hypovitaminosis D can mainly be attributed to lifestyle and environmental factors that reduce exposure to sunlight, which is required for ultraviolet-B (UVB)-induced vitamin D production in the skin. The high prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency is a particularly important public health issue because hypovitaminosis D is an independent risk factor for total mortality in the general population. Many health care providers have increased their recommendations for vitamin D supplementation to at least 1000 IU.
 
Methodology: this study was done over a span of 10 months from September 2021 to July 2022
This was a retrospective descriptive study in which data were recorded for all patients aged from 6 months to 12 years of age with features suggestive of vitamin D deficiency seen in Dr DY Patil Medical College and Hospital, Pune for a period of 10 months
The Health Research and ethics committee of Dr DY Patil Medical College and Hospital, Pune approved the study and waived the requirement for the informed consent. A total of 69 patients were included in this study.
Results: 69 patients were included in the study out of which 39 were males { 56.52%} and 30 were females { 43.48%} . the main presenting feature was bowing of legs { 31.9%} followed by difficulty in walking in 15.9%
Out of 69 children 53 had severe deficiency, 13 had mild to moderate deficiency and 3 had optimum levels of vitamin D.
28 children belonged to the age group of 1-5 years followed by 18 children in age group of 5-10 years and 11 children in age group less than 1 year and 10-15 years
Out of the entire study group 56 children had bony deformities and 13 had neurodevelopmental presentation
Conclusion:  the above results emphasise the fact that due to covid most of the children were restricted to stay indoors for several months leading to vitamin D deficiency in them. it also emphasis the fact that regular screening of children should be done with respect to vitamin D levels and also other micronutrients and children should be encouraged to have some amount of sun exposure to get natural supplementation of vitamin D and also be supplemented at desired intervals so that they adequate amount of vitamin D levels.

Background: It has long been believed that a lack of vitamin D increases the likelihood of developing glucose intolerance. During pregnancy, pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), and non-GDM control participants were all compared for their serum levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D3.
Methods: In this case-control study, 111 non-GDM control women were compared to 54 women with diagnosed GDM, 39 women with IGT (1 abnormal oral glucose tolerance test), and 54 women without GDM. In terms of gestational age, age, and body mass index, controls and the IGT and GDM groups were matched.
Results: When compared to non-GDM controls, the maternal blood 25-hydroxy vitamin D3 concentration in the GDM and IGT groups at 24-28 weeks of gestation was considerably lower (P =.001). Plasma 25-hydroxy vitamin D3 concentrations were consistent with a diagnosis of vitamin D insufficiency in 83.3% of GDM and 71.2% of the control group (P =.03). When compared to the control group, women with GDM had a 2.66-fold higher probability of being deficient (25-hydroxy vitamin D3 15 ng/mL).
Conclusions: According to these findings, vitamin D deficiency is more common in women with IGT/GDM, and more research is needed to determine how vitamin D status affects a woman's ability to tolerate glucose during pregnancy.

Objectives:The purpose of the study is to evaluate how vitamin D supplementation affects the severity of pain, functional impairment, and vitamin D levels in individuals with CLBP.
Study design:An open-label, single-arm clinical trial
Setting: A tertiary care hospital's outpatient pain clinic
Methods:A total of 342 individuals were included in the study (CLBP for more than 3 months and plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels of 30 ng/mL). For eight weeks, patients received 60,000 IU of oral vitamin D3 once a week as a supplement. At baseline, 2, 3, and 6 months after supplementation, VAS measurements of pain intensity and functional impairment were included as efficacy parameters. At baseline and eight weeks later, the levels of plasma 25 (OH) D3 were assessed.
Results:After taking vitamin D supplements, all 342 patients' serum vitamin D levels returned to normal. Of these, 84 patients had normal vitamin D levels and responded 69% to vitamin D therapy, while 258 patients had low vitamin D levels and responded 100% to vitamin D therapy for their LBP.
Conclusion:In addition to bringing levels back to normal, vitamin-D therapy in CLBP patients with vitamin-D deficiency may also reduce discomfort and enhance functional capacity. Controlled clinical trials in the future are necessary to verify the hypothesis.

Background: Vitamin D is essential for calcium absorption, bones strengthening, hemopoiesis,
protection against heart failure, prevention against upper respiratory infection, acts as anti-oxidant and
strengthening immunity. Its deficiency has turn out to be epidemic globally, but still majority of
population is unaware about the problem. The prevalence can be appreciated in all age groups in both
the genders, such as, youngsters, adult, pregnant women and geriatric group. As vitamin D functions in
bone remodeling and its normal growth, the deficiency leads to retarded growth and skeletal deformities
in infants and adolescents, whereas, muscle weakness and fractures are common in adults. Present study
was carried out to sensitize the medical undergraduates regarding deficiency, prevention and treatment
of vitamin D.

Background:Allergic Rhinitis is a common and major chronic respiratory disease due
to its prevalence, impact on the quality of life, impact on school performance and
productivity, economic burden and its strong link with the Asthma. In recent years the
increase in prevalence of Allergic diseases has been found to be associated with low
serum vitamin D levels. A relationship has been seen between vitamin D deficiency and
Allergic Rhinitis and Asthma.
Aim and objective:This study aims to evaluate vitamin D levels in Allergic Rhinitis cases
and controls.
Materials and Methods:The study was carried out in the Department of Physiology at
Index Medical College, Indore, Madhya Pradesh. The study was done on 80 males and
female subjects of the age group 6 to 18 years. Forty males and females suffering from
Allergic Rhinitis attending Ear, Nose and Throat out-patient department of the Index
medical college hospital and research Centre Indore, were taken as cases. Forty healthy
males and females was taken as controls after careful selection as per inclusion and
exclusion criteria, “Vitamin D” estimation was done by ECLIA method (Electrochemi-
Luminescence Immunoassay using Beckmen’s commercial kit).
Results:The Vitamin D levels were significantly lower in Allergic Rhinitis cases
(P<0.001) as compared controls (P<0.000)
Conclusion:Theresults of the present study indicate that vitamin D levels are decreased
in Allergic Rhinitis cases as compared to the controls. Vitamin D deficiency increases
the risk of Allergic Rhinitis.