Vitamin D deficiency, low BMD linked to sickle cell anemia in children, finds study

Egypt: A recent study has linked sickle cell disease (SCD) with vitamin D deficiency and low bone mineral density (BMD) in children. The findings of the study, published in the Egyptian Journal of Hospital Medicine, emphasizes the need for screening of vitamin D levels for all SCD patients. 

Vitamin D and calcium are essential for bone metabolism. The low intake of calcium leads to a reduction in the ideal bone mass peak (determines growth failure) in SCD children. There is little information on BMD in children having SCD and its association with 25(OH)D levels. Mohamed Ahmed Badr, Departments of Pediatrics, Zagazig University, Sharkia, Egypt, and colleagues evaluated the relation between Vitamin D level and bone mineral density in children with sickle cell disease. 

The cross-sectional study included 30 patients (14 males and 16 females) with SCD who were following up for over 6 months from February to August 2018 at Pediatric Hematology outpatient clinics of Zagazig University Hospital. 

"Vitamin D deficiency is a major nutritional health problem in patients with sickle cell disease. Emphasizes the need for vitamin D level screening for all SCD patients. Children with SCD have low BMD. There was no statistically significant correlation between vitamin D and (Z-score of BMD L1-L4, Z-score of BMD total body, Osteocalcin, and Beta cross lab) among the studied sickle cell disease cases," concluded the authors. 

The study, "Assessment of Vitamin D Level and Osteoporosis in Children with Sickle Cell Anemia," is published in the Egyptian Journal of Hospital Medicine.