Volume 10,Issue 4
Nutritional Status of Vitamin D and Vitamin K in Infants and Young Children in the Liangshan Region and the Impact of Stratified Supplementation on Bone Metabolism Markers
Objective: To systematically evaluate the nutritional status of vitamin D and vitamin K (K1, K2) in infants and young children aged 3 months to 3 years in the Liangshan region, explore the impact of a detection-based stratified supplementation regimen on bone metabolism markers, and provide evidence-based support for precise nutritional interventions in infants in minority areas. Methods: A cross-sectional survey combined with an intervention study design was employed, involving 3,689 infants and young children aged 3 months to 3 years in Liangshan Prefecture. Among them, serum vitamin D levels were measured in all 3,689 cases, while vitamin K1 and K2 levels were simultaneously measured in 1,172 cases. The composition ratios of nutritional status were analyzed by stratification based on gender and age in months. Individualized stratified supplementation was implemented for those with insufficient/deficient vitamin D or K levels, while those with adequate levels received basic vitamin D supplementation as a control. After 12 weeks of intervention, bone metabolism-related indicators were re-examined and comparatively analyzed. Results: In Liangshan Prefecture, the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among infants and young children was 8.21%, with an insufficiency rate of 10.90%, resulting in a total abnormality rate of 19.11%. The overall prevalence of vitamin K deficiency was 51.11%, with K2 deficiency accounting for a substantial 47.44%, significantly higher than K1 deficiency (3.67%). No statistically significant differences were observed in the composition ratios of nutritional status across different gender and age groups (p > 0.05). After the intervention, platelet count, mean platelet volume, serum calcium levels, and bone density significantly increased in those with insufficient/deficient vitamin D or K levels compared to pre-intervention levels (p < 0.05), indicating effective regulation of bone metabolism cycles. Conclusion: Vitamin D and K nutritional abnormalities are prominent among infants and young children in Liangshan Prefecture, with vitamin K2 deficiency being a core characteristic. Regional dietary patterns are the primary influencing factor. The stratified supplementation strategy based on testing can precisely improve bone metabolism indicators. It is recommended to incorporate joint screening for vitamin D and K and individualized supplementation into routine regional child health care to safeguard the skeletal health of infants and young children.
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