Role of vitamin D in acute Diarrhoea among Bangladeshi children: A single center experience

Abstract

Introduction: Acute diarrhoea is a major cause of the infectious disease in Bangladesh especially among infant and young children. Recent studies have demonstrated a relationship between poor vitamin D status and respiratory infections and diarrhoea among young children. Despite South Asia’s low latitude and abundant sunshine, low [25(OH)D] has been reported in infants in India, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh, suggesting that the contribution of serum vitamin D3 status to acute diarrhoea risk might be prominent in this region. Objective: To observe the level of vitamin D in cases of acute watery diarrhoea. Methods: Cross sectional study, which was done at the Department of Paediatrics at Mughda Medical College and Hospital, Dhaka from January 2021 through June 2022. Children age between 6 months to 59 months irrespective of sex with acute diarrhoea who were admitted in this hospital were included in this study. Result: Maximum number of patients with diarrhoea aged between 6 to 12 months with preponderance to urban children. Male patient outnumbered the female. Level of vitamin D was found deficient in more than 50% of the patients. More than 50% of patients with deficient vitamin D level having some dehydration. Hospital stay was also longer in vitamin D deficient patients. Conclusion: Vitamin D3 level was found low among the children between 6 moths to 5 years with acute diarrhoea. Low vitamin D level was also associated with longer duration of diarrhoea and significant dehydration.

DS (Child) H J 2025; 41(1): 25-30