X Chen, Q Long, T Zhang, F Chen, W Wang, M Ma

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to analyse the effect that nutritional status has on vitamin K2 (VK2) in picky children. Methods: This was a retrospective study of children aged <10 years who were picky eaters without organic diseases and visited the clinical nutrition clinic at a Chinese tertiary children's hospital between January 2021 and October 2021. We first analysed the influencing factors of VK2 deficiency, then compared the nutritional status when VK2 concentration were categorised into three different groups according to their severity. Results: The correlation analysis yielded the correlation coefficients of weight-for-age z-score (WAZ), height-for-age z-score (HAZ) and body mass index-for-age z-score (BAZ) as 0.306 (p=0.009), 0.129 (p=0.283), and 0.085 (p=0.478), respectively. The multiple comparison results revealed significant differences in terms of HAZ (p=0.007) and WAZ (p=0.024). Conclusion: The nutritional status of children was worse when VK2 is severely deficient. WAZ was positively correlated with VK2 concentration.