Abstract

Appetite disturbances in children may be linked to underlying micronutrient deficiencies, even in the absence of overt growth abnormalities. This study aimed to evaluate the association between caregiver-reported poor appetite and serum levels of select vitamins and minerals in children. A retrospective case-control study was conducted involving 200 children aged 2–16 years (100 with poor appetite and 100 age- and sex-matched controls). Serum levels of vitamin D, vitamin B12, folic acid, calcium, and phosphorus were compared between groups. There were no significant differences in age, sex distribution, or BMI between groups. However, children with poor appetite exhibited significantly lower serum concentrations of vitamin B12 (358.0 [244.25-465.25] vs. 440.0 [353.0-540.0] pg/mL, p

Key words: Calcium, children, folic acid, phosphorus, poor appetite, vitamin B12, vitamin D