Demographics and Nutritional Profile of Childhood Vitamin D deficiency
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Investigation of the Incidence, Demographics and Nutritional Profile of Childhood Vitamin D Deficiency in Greater Glasgow and Clyde.
IRAS ID
250040
Contact name
Helen McDevitt
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Research and Development NHS GGC
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
Children in Scotland are at risk of rickets and other symptoms like fits caused by low levels of vitamin D. Children may have vitamin D deficiency because they are not exposed to enough sunlight, are not taking the recommended vitamin D supplements, or have a diet lacking vitamin D. We do not know exactly how many children are currently affected. Using biochemical test data and the electronic patient record we plan to identify all children in attending the Royal Hospital for Children (RHC) in Glasgow newly diagnosed with clinical problems caused by low vitamin D in the past 5 years. We will identify how many had clinical or ethnic risk factors for deficiency and describe the way the deficiency has affected them. Over a 2 years period we will also survey parents of children newly diagnosed with clinical problems caused by low vitamin D about their diet, ethnicity and the time they spend outdoors, as well as running additional tests on bloods already taken from them for clinical purposes. We will also aim to recruit best friend control children of the same age and ethnicity as well as other children attending for other conditions who have had their vitamin D status assessed, who will also have a dietary assessment. This information will help plan health programmes to prevent vitamin D deficiency.
REC name
North West - Haydock Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/NW/0151
Date of REC Opinion
22 Mar 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion