Calcium and Vitamin D Intakes in Children

Calcium (Ca2+) and vitamin D (VitD) play an important role in child health. Aims. The investigators evaluated the daily intake of Ca2+ and VitD in healthy children; and the efficacy of Ca2+ and VitD supplementation. Daily Ca2 + and VitD intake was evaluated in consecutive healthy children through a validated questionnaire. Subjects with a daily Ca2 + and VitD intake < 70% of dietary reference intakes (DRIs) were invited to participate in prospective randomized trial with 2 groups of nutritional intervention: group 1, dietary counseling aiming to optimize daily Ca2+ and VitD intake plus administration of a commercially available Ca2 + and VitD supplementation product (Colecalcium®, Humana, Milan, Italy); group 2, dietary counseling alone. At the enrollment (T0) and after 4 months (T1) serum VitD levels were assessed.

Daily Ca2+ and VitD intake was determined using a previously validated written dietary questionnaire, filled by the parents with the help of a registered dietitian. Eventual assumption of Ca2+ and/or VitD supplements or fortified foods was also registered. All questionnaires were collected and analyzed using a specific software based on the Italian food composition tables (Winfood, Medimatica SRL, Martinsicuro, Teramo, Italy). All data were recorded in a specific clinical chart before statistical analysis. All subjects with less than 70% of the DRIs were invited to participate in a randomized trial aiming to investigate the efficacy of different nutritional interventions. The dietitian gave information to the parents on how to improve the consumption of foods rich in Ca2+ and VitD according to DRIs. No nutritional support products were prescribed in children enrolled in group 2.

Assessed VitD intake in a population of healthy pediatric subjects and evaluate the efficacy and applicability of a nutritional intervention to optimize VitD intake.

Assessed Ca2 intake in a population of healthy pediatric subjects and evaluate the efficacy and applicability of a nutritional intervention to optimize Ca2 intake.

Inclusion Criteria: Ambulatory healthy subjects (male and female, age range 3-17 years) consecutively observed at our Department for routine clinical examination because vaccination program were considered eligible for the study. Exclusion criteria malnutrition (defined as a weight/height ratio <5° centile); presence of chronic systemic diseases (celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, food allergy, cystic fibrosis, malignancy, immunodeficiency, tuberculosis, genetic-metabolic disease, primitive bone disease, diabetes and endocrine disorder); and use of systemic steroids in the previous 3 months.

Cosenza L, Pezzella V, Nocerino R, Di Costanzo M, Coruzzo A, Passariello A, Leone L, Savoia M, Del Puente A, Esposito A, Terrin G, Berni Canani R. Calcium and vitamin D intakes in children: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Pediatr. 2013 May 23;13:86. doi: 10.1186/1471-2431-13-86.