Prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency in Swiss teenagers with appendicular fractures: A prospective study of 100 cases

Abstract Background The significance of subclinical vitamin D deficiency in the pathogenesis of fractures in children and adolescents currently remains unclear. Objective We aimed to determine the prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency and its effect on bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) values in a collective of Swiss Caucasian children with a first episode of appendicular fracture. Design and methods One hundred teenagers with a first episode of appendicular fracture [50 upper limb fractures (group 1) and 50 lower limb fractures (group 2)] and 50 healthy controls (group 3) were recruited into a cross-sectional study. The BMC and BMD values were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] was assessed by electrochemiluminescence immunoassays. Results From the 100 injured teenagers in the study, 12 % had deficient vitamin D levels (