TY - JOUR PY - 2019// TI - Vitamin D deficiency in middle childhood is related to behavior problems in adolescence JO - Journal of nutrition A1 - Robinson, Sonia L. A1 - Marín, Constanza A1 - Oliveros, Henry A1 - Mora-Plazas, Mercedes A1 - Lozoff, Betsy A1 - Villamor, Eduardo SP - ePub EP - ePub VL - ePub IS - ePub N2 - BACKGROUND: Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) is associated with depression and schizophrenia in adults. The effect of VDD in childhood on behavioral development is unknown.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to study the associations of VDD and vitamin D binding protein (DBP) in middle childhood with behavior problems in adolescence.

METHODS: We quantified plasma total 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and DBP in 273 schoolchildren aged 5-12 y at recruitment into a cohort study in Bogota, Colombia. Externalizing and internalizing behavior problems were assessed after a median 6-y follow-up by parental report [Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL)] and self-report [Youth Self-Report (YSR)]. We estimated mean problem score differences with 95% CIs between exposure categories using multivariable linear regression. We also compared the prevalence of clinical behavior problems (score >63) between exposure groups. We assessed whether the associations between DBP and behavior problems were mediated through VDD.

RESULTS: Mean ± SD CBCL and YSR externalizing problems scores were 56.5 ± 9.3 and 53.2 ± 9.5, respectively. Internalizing problems scores averaged 57.1 ± 9.8 and 53.7 ± 9.8, respectively. VDD [25(OH)D <50 nmol/L] prevalence was 10.3%. VDD was associated with an adjusted 6.0 (95% CI: 3.0, 9.0) and 3.4 (95% CI: 0.1, 6.6) units higher CBCL and YSR externalizing problems scores, respectively, and an adjusted 3.6 (95% CI: 0.3, 6.9) units higher CBCL internalizing problems scores. The prevalence of clinical total externalizing problems was 1.8 (95% CI: 1.1, 3.1) times higher in children with VDD than that in children without VDD. DBP concentration below the population median was related to higher YSR aggressive behavior and anxious/depressed subscale scores and to higher prevalence of clinical total externalizing problems. The associations between DBP and behavior problems were not mediated through VDD.

CONCLUSIONS: VDD and low DBP in middle childhood are related to behavior problems in adolescence.

Copyright © American Society for Nutrition 2019.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 0022-3166 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jn/nxz185 ID - ref1 ER -