Higher Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency Is Associated with Immigrant Background among Children and Adolescents in Germany

Abstract

In recent years, a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among children and adolescents has been reported in countries with moderate climates. Those with an immigrant background living under these conditions are at especially high risk. To date, representative data in Germany is lacking. We analyzed 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations of 10,015 children and adolescents, aged 1-17 y, who participated in the German National Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents. The proportion of immigrants was 25.4%, corresponding well to their percentage of the population. Among 3- to 17-y-old participants, 29% of immigrant boys and 31% of immigrant girls had 25(OH)D concentrations