Objective: To evaluate vitamin D levels and bone mineral density in patients with dietary limitations due to inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) and its correlation with diets.
Study design: Retrospective study.
Place and duration of study: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Metabolism and Nutrition, Gazi University Hospital, Turkey, from March to Semtember 2016.
Methodology: The study is a retrospective review of 115 patients. Information about vitamin D status, bone mineral density (BMD) measurement and anthropometric parametres were collected. Patients were divided into two major groups, receiving protein-restricted diets (n=83) and lactose-restricted diets (n=32). Data of 110 healthy children were used as the control group.
Results: Mean vitamin D level of patients with special diets 28.1 ±14.9 ng/ml while mean level of healthy controls was 26.6 ±12.27 ng/ml. Levels of 26.8% (n=26/97) patients were found to be deficient and 34% (n=33/97) were found to be insufficient. No statistically significant differences were found between vitamin D levels and BMD of patients and healthy controls. BMD was not influenced by vitamin D levels.
Conclusion: Low BMD may be encountered in IEM, independent of vitamin D levels and revision of diet for adequacy of essential nutrients; and follow-up for dietary compliance is inevitable.