LAUSR

Study design Cross-sectional study. Objective To determine the prevalence and potential risk factors of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency among Malaysian children with spina bifida. Setting Four Malaysian tertiary hospitals. Methods Children with spina bifida were assessed for potential demographic, disease severity and lifestyle risk factors for vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency. Blood for 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) was taken. Vitamin D deficiency was defined as 25(OH)D levels ≤ 37.5 nmol/L and insufficiency as 37.6–50 nmol/L. Results Eighty children aged 2–18 years (42 males) participated in the study. Vitamin D levels ranged from 14 to 105 nmol/L (mean 52.8, SD 19.1). Vitamin D deficiency was identified in 18 (22.5%) and insufficiency in 26 (32.5%) children. Logistic regression analysis showed that skin exposure to sunlight ≤ 21% body surface area (OR: 6.2, CI 1.7–22.9) and duration of sun exposure ≤ 35 min/day (OR: 4.0, CI 1.2–14.1) were significant risk factors for vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency, respectively. Conclusions Over half (55%) of Malaysian children with spina bifida seen in urban tertiary hospitals have vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency. Lifestyle sun exposure behaviours were risk factors for vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency.