Association Between Vitamin D Levels and Developmental Status in Short-Stature Children

<b>Background:</b> The first two years of life are crucial for child growth and development, and short stature is a common issue influenced by nutritional deficiencies. This study aimed to determine the relationship between vitamin D levels and short stature in children under 2 years of age in Bandung. <b>Methods:</b> Conducted as part of the ALG Grant research entitled '<i>The Role of Vitamin D in Reducing Maternal and Infant Mortality Rates Across Bandung Regency</i>', this case-control study included 221 children, of whom 46.1% were below average height. <b>Results:</b> Nutritional status played a significant role, with short stature being associated with underweight (21.6%), severely underweight (29.4%), wasted (12.7%), and severely wasted (10.8%) conditions. However, the analysis revealed no significant difference in vitamin D levels between children with short stature and those with normal stature (median 28.8 vs. 28.8, <i>p</i> = 0.555). Logistic regression showed that short stature increased the risk of developmental deviations by 5.46 times compared to normal stature. <b>Conclusions:</b> While short stature remains a concern in Bandung, vitamin D levels do not appear to influence the incidence of short stature or developmental deviations in this population.