Serum vitamin D, zinc, iron and copper levels in children with newly diagnosed coeliac disease

Objectives: To assess the occurrence of serum vitamin D, zinc, iron and copper deficiency in children with newly diagnosed coeliac disease (CD) as compared to healthy controls at a tertiary care centre in Western Rajasthan, India

Method: A case control study was conducted in the Gastroenterology Clinic, Department of Paediatrics, Dr S. N. Medical College, Jodhpur, India for a period of one year. Sixty consecutive newly diagnosed CD patients between 2-18 years of age, confirmed via serology and duodenal biopsy, who fulfilled the study criteria, were enrolled as cases in the study. Representative samples of 30 age-and-sex matched healthy subjects were taken as controls. Serum levels of vitamin D, zinc, iron and copper were assessed at diagnosis in cases and controls.

Results: Mean age of the cases in the study was 6.19 ± 3.42 years. Serum vitamin D, zinc, iron and copper deficiency were seen in 55%, 40%, 58.3% and 11.7% cases respectively. The median (IQR) of serum vitamin D (p=0.002), zinc (p<0.001) and iron (p=0.003) were significantly lower in cases as compared to controls. A statistically significant correlation was seen between serum tissue transglutaminase (TTG) and mean serum vitamin D levels of cases in the study group (p<0.05) and between vitamin D levels and short stature (p <0.001).

Conclusions: Vitamin D, zinc and iron deficiencies were more frequently observed in children with newly diagnosed CD as compared to healthy controls.

Sri Lanka Journal of Child Health, 2022; 51(4): 519-524