Vitamin and mineral deficiency in children newly diagnosed with celiac disease

Background/aim: To establish the frequency of vitamin and mineral deficiency in children newly diagnosed with celiac disease. Materials and methods: The files of patients diagnosed with celiac disease in our Pediatric Gastroenterology Clinic from June 2008 to June 2013 were reviewed retrospectively. Results: A total of 52 pediatric patients diagnosed with celiac disease via serology and duodenal biopsy and who fulfilled the study criteria were enrolled in the study. The mean diagnosis age of the patients was 8.5 ± 3.9 years and 33 (63.5%) of the patients were female. Vitamin D, vitamin A, vitamin E, zinc, and iron deficiencies were determined in 27 (51.9%), 4 (7.7%), 7 (13.5%), 35 (67.3%), and 18 (34.6%) patients, respectively, at the time of diagnosis. Vitamin D deficiency was observed more frequently in patients with growth retardation at the time of application (P = 0.02). Conclusion: Vitamin D, zinc, and iron deficiency are frequently observed in pediatric patients with celiac disease at the time of diagnosis. Therefore, serum vitamin D, zinc, and iron levels should be checked in all children diagnosed with celiac disease.