Original Articles
Vitamin D intake in young children with acute lower respiratory infection
Abstract
Objective: To determine if vitamin D intake is associated with acute lower respiratory infections (ALRI) in children.
Methods: The vitamin D intakes of children younger than 5 years of age admitted to hospital with either bronchiolitis
or pneumonia were compared to an unmatched control group of the same age without respiratory infection. Caregivers
of 197 children completed a questionnaire collecting information on demographic variables, ALRI risk factors and diet.
Associations of ALRI with vitamin D intake and other ALRI risk factors were determined.
Results: The mean vitamin D intake of children with ALRI was 48 IU/kg/d compared to 60 IU/kg/d in the control group.
When controlling for age, ethnicity, socio-economic status, northern residence, breastfeeding, immunizations and smoking
contact, children with a vitamin D intake of less than 80 IU/kg/d were greater than 4 times more likely to have ALRI
compared to children with a vitamin D intake exceeding 80 IU/kg/day (OR 4.9, CI: 1.5, 16.4).
Conclusions: A higher vitamin D intake than currently recommended might be needed to offer protection against diseases
such as ALRI. Increased vitamin D supplementation could have important public health consequences, as bronchiolitis and
pneumonia are the most common reasons for hospitalization in young children.
Methods: The vitamin D intakes of children younger than 5 years of age admitted to hospital with either bronchiolitis
or pneumonia were compared to an unmatched control group of the same age without respiratory infection. Caregivers
of 197 children completed a questionnaire collecting information on demographic variables, ALRI risk factors and diet.
Associations of ALRI with vitamin D intake and other ALRI risk factors were determined.
Results: The mean vitamin D intake of children with ALRI was 48 IU/kg/d compared to 60 IU/kg/d in the control group.
When controlling for age, ethnicity, socio-economic status, northern residence, breastfeeding, immunizations and smoking
contact, children with a vitamin D intake of less than 80 IU/kg/d were greater than 4 times more likely to have ALRI
compared to children with a vitamin D intake exceeding 80 IU/kg/day (OR 4.9, CI: 1.5, 16.4).
Conclusions: A higher vitamin D intake than currently recommended might be needed to offer protection against diseases
such as ALRI. Increased vitamin D supplementation could have important public health consequences, as bronchiolitis and
pneumonia are the most common reasons for hospitalization in young children.
