Association between schooling pattern and weight with vitamin D status

Background: Vitamin D deficiency affects bone health, immunity, and growth in children. Urbanization, poor diet, and limited sun exposure heighten risks in South-East Asia, including Bangladesh. This study was aimed to evaluate the association between schooling pattern and weight with vitamin D status among different school group children in South-East region of Bangladesh. Methods: This cross-sectional observational study was conducted in Chittagong Metropolitan City from July 2012 to December 2017 among 524 children aged between 0 to 18 years. Electro-chemiluminescence was used to measure serum 25(OH) D levels. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data. Chi-square tests and logistic regression was done and p<0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: Among 524 subjects, 265 (50.57%) had vitamin D levels below 20 ng/dl. The age distribution was 51.3% (1-5 years) and 32.6% (5-10 years), with a mean±SD of 51.87±39.91. Children in kindergarten, primary and high school had a significantly higher risk of deficiency than those who were not educated (p < 0.01). Low and high weight-for-age were associated with increased risk of hypovitaminosis D (OR=0.73 and 2.78, respectively). Mean vitamin D levels for English language students were found to be lower than Bengali language students (p<0.05). There was no significant difference between government and private school children. Conclusion: Hypovitaminosis D is highly prevalent among children in South-East region of Bangladesh, influenced by schooling patterns and nutritional status. This requires targeted interventions, such as awareness campaigns and dietary supplementation.