Vitamin d depletion following burn injury in children: a possible factor in post-burn osteopenia

Background Children burned > 40% total body surface area (TBSA) have chronically low bone mineral density (BMD) and increased risk for fractures and adult-onset osteoporosis. Because they are advised to avoid sunlight to prevent burn scar hyperpigmentation, we hypothesized that they develop vitamin D depletion, which could contribute to post-burn osteopenia. Methods We studied 24 children, ages 5-20 years, burned ≥ 40% TBSA 7.1 ± 3.8 (SD) years, range 1.9-13.3 years, previously (n = 12) and 2.0 ± 0.2, range 1.4-2.1 years, previously (n = 12), of which half received recombinant human growth hormone during the first post-burn year. We measured lumbar spine BMD, serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)₂D), intact PTH (iPTH), and osteocalcin. Results Serum 25(OH)D was low in 10/11 patients and 1,25(OH)₂D was low in 5/11 at 7 years post-burn. Serum 25(OH)D was low in 10/12, while 1,25(OH)₂D was low in 0/12 at 2 years; osteocalcin was low in 9/12 in the 7-year group; iPTH levels were in the lowest quartile in 5/12 patients at 7 years and 10/12 patients at 2 years. Serum 25(OH)D levels correlated with BMD z-scores, r = 0.53, p < 0.05, and inversely with iPTH levels, r = −0.66, p < 0.05, in the 7-year group.Conclusion Burned children have low circulating levels of 25(OH)D which correlated with BMD z-scores, suggesting that post-burn vitamin D depletion may play a role in the chronically low bone density observed in these children.