Serum Vitamin D levels in children with Sickle Cell Disease treated at a Medical Centre in Owo, Nigeria

Sickle cell disease (SCD) remains a devastating disease globally, with the highest burden in Sub-Saharan Africa, especially Nigeria. Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) has been shown to worsen morbidity in SCD children. This study was carried out to determine serum Vitamin D levels in children with SCD and the relationship between low levels of serum Vitamin D and clinical severity of SCD in children treated at the Federal Medical Centre in Owo, Nigeria. This was a cross-sectional, comparative study among children with SCD aged 2–16 years in stable condition. Ethical approval was obtained and 118 patients each with SCD and normal hemoglobin (HbAA) were recruited. Research proforma was used to collect information, and serum vitamin D was analysed using High Performance Liquid Chromatography method. The overall M: F ratio was 1.1:1. Both subjects and controls had similar mean ± SD ages of 8.6 ± 3.3 years and 8.2 ± 3.3 years respectively. The median serum Vitamin D levels were not statistically different between SCD subjects and HbAA controls (t = 4.79; p = 0.09). The prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency in HbAA controls was 37.3 % which was not statistically different when compared with the 39.3 % seen among the SCD subjects (p = 0.307). The insufficient levels of Vitamin D were 12.7 % and 18.6 % in SCD children and HbAA controls respectively. There was no association between Vitamin D status and clinical severity of SCD. Low levels of Vitamin D were documented in both groups with no significant difference. Attention should be given to Vitamin D fortification and adequate sunlight exposure for all children. There was no correlation between Vitamin D deficiency and severity of SCD in our patient population.