Alfacalcidol Improves the Growth Velocity in Children with Vitamin D Deficiency/insufficiency: A Single Center Retrospective Cohort Study

Overview

Journal PLoS One

Specialties General Medicine
Science

Date 2021 Mar 8

PMID 33684119

Authors

Satoshi Miyagaki

Mihoko Yamaguchi

Takeshi Ota

Yasuhiro Kawabe

Hidechika Morimoto

Yoshinobu Oka

Jun Mori

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the growth velocity-improving effects of vitamin D replacement therapy in pediatric patients diagnosed with vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency.

Study Design: A retrospective cohort study was conducted in 34 pediatric patients diagnosed with vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency. Based on the clinical findings, the subjects were divided into two groups: a bowed leg (BL) group and a non-bowed leg (non-BL) group. After the initiation of alfacalcidol, the standard deviation score (SDS) of their heights, weights and growth velocities in each group were monitored.

Results: The median age at the first visit was significantly lesser in the BL group (1.58 years old [interquartile range (IQR): 1.33, 2.17]) than that in the non-BL group (3.00 years old [IQR: 2.33, 3.67]). On the contrary, the SDS for height was significantly lower in the non-BL group (-2.27 [IQR: -2.63, -1.94]) than that in the BL group (-1.37 [IQR: -1.91, -1.07]). One-year treatment with alfacalcidol showed significant improvements in both height SDSs and growth velocity SDSs not only in the BL group but also in the non-BL group.

Conclusions: The current study revealed that vitamin D replacement therapy improved the growth rate in children with vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency, regardless of the presence of BL. This study emphasizes the importance of assessing the vitamin D status in children with poor growth rates and suggests that alfacalcidol could be a valid option for the treatment of short stature.

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