Study on Vitamin D and nutritional status in children and adolescents with helminthiases in central Moldova

Abstract

Background: Vitamin D deficiency has a high prevalence among schoolchildren worldwide. The effects of deficiency include impaired immune response and increased risk of varios infections whose record is poor. Currently, scientists have the opinion that vitamin D status can be rightly considered as an indicator of health in a given country as well as a socio-economic indicator of each country. Unfortunately, very few researches are devoted to the role of vitamin D in parasitic invasions in children and associations between them, to be able to compare the resultants of our research with similar results in other countries. Material and methods: The study included two groups: group 1 (control) comprised 34 girls and 37 boys from Chisinau, group 2 (study) included 97 girls and 129 boys from Orhei. The children in both groups were examined physically and anthropometrically. Vitamin D status was determined and coproparasitological tests were carried out. There were determined hemoglobin levels and some biochemical markers in relation to their nutritional status. Results: It was determined a poor vitamin D status in both cohorts and a high level of infestation with helminths without establishing any correlation between vitamin D status and the level of infestation. The prevalence of helminthiases varies depending on the type of helminth detected in each cohort. Intestinal parasitosis does not influence body weight, waist and body mass index. Seven children with poly-invasion had a lower height, but their number was too small to validate the data. Children with parasitosis, regardless of its type, had some digestive signs more frequently than children without infestation and the incidence of pulmonary, hepatobiliary and dental diseases, as well as bone deformity was not influenced by the presence or absence of intestinal parasitosis. Conclusions: Intestinal parasitoses do not influence body weight, waist and body mass index. Children with parasitosis, regardless of its type, have some digestive signs more frequently than children without infestation and the incidence of pulmonary, hepatobiliary and dental diseases as well as bone deformities was not influenced by the presence or absence of intestinal parasitosis. The children and adolescents from the boarding school in Orhei had a poor nutritional status due to an unbalanced diet with a low intake of milk/dairy products and meat and high in fiber.