Ann Pediatr Endocrinol Metab.  2024 Aug;29(4):220-226. 10.6065/apem.2346196.098.

Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on serum vitamin D concentration in Korean children

• Choi J
• Choe Y
• Lee K
• Kim N
• Yang S

• KMID: 2559449
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.6065/apem.2346196.098

Abstract

Purpose
Social distancing policies and school closures in South Korea induced by coronavirus disease 2019 have raised concerns about a lower chance of exposure to sunlight in children and adolescents. This study investigates changes in the vitamin D status of children and adolescents following the pandemic.
Methods
This retrospective study includes healthy children aged 3–18 years who visited Hanyang University Hospitals in Seoul or Guri during pre-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and post-COVID-19 pandemic periods. August 2017 to July 2019 is defined as the pre-COVID-19 pandemic period, while the period from July 2020 to July 2021 is defined as post-COVID-19 or "during the pandemic." Propensity scores were used to match the prepandemic and pandemic groups 1:1 based on age, sex, season of blood collection, and body mass index z-score to compare vitamin D status among subjects.
Results
Among 786 eligible children, 506 were matched using propensity scores. There were no significant differences in mean serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH) D) levels (20.1±6.5 ng/mL vs. 19.9±6.3 ng/mL, P>0.05) or vitamin D deficiency rates (53.0% vs. 54.9%, P>0.05) between the prepandemic and pandemic groups. Seasonal analysis revealed lower mean serum 25(OH)D levels during the pandemic in winter/spring seasons in comparison to these levels in subjects in prepandemic winter/spring seasons (19.1±3.8 ng/mL vs. 17.2±3.7 ng/mL, P=0.006).
Conclusion
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Korean children and adolescents showed similar serum 25(OH)D levels and vitamin D status to the prepandemic period, with a significant decrease in these measures observed in winter/spring seasons only. Prolonged confinement, such as in pandemic circumstances, underscores the need for vigilant monitoring of vitamin D status and supplementation, particularly in high-risk seasons.

Keyword

Vitamin D; COVID-19; Propensity score; Child; Adolescent

Figure

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  Fig. 1. Schematic diagram of the research. COVID-19, coronavirus disease 2019.

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  Fig. 2. Comparison of the absolute standardized mean difference before and after nearest neighbor matching. BMI, body mass index.

Reference

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