Proportion of different categories of the serum 25(OH)D level in the study population.

<p>Serum 25(OH)D levels were sectioned into four categories indicated by different color (<30 nmol/L, 30–49.9 nmol/L, 50–74.9 nmol/L and ≥75 nmol/L). n indicated children number in each category.</p

Comparison of the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in young children by age and season.

<p>Vitamin D deficiency was defined as a serum 25(OH)D level of <50 nmol/L. All the children were stratified by age into three subgroups (aged 1, 2 and 3). In each subgroup, the subjects were further stratified by season of serum collection. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in each season was calculated separately within each age group.</p

Comparison of the serum 25(OH)D concentration among young children at different ages.

<p>As the children grew older, the median serum 25(OH)D level was decreased.</p

Frequency distribution of the serum 25(OH)D concentration in 5,571 young children.

<p>The serum 25(OH)D level ranged from 20.6–132.9 nmol/L with a median value of 71.5 nmol/L and most values of 25(OH)D levels were more than 50 nmol/L.</p

Comparison of the serum 25(OH)D concentration among young children in different seasons.

<p>The serum 25(OH)D level was highest in summer and lowest in autumn.</p

Comparison of serum 25(OH)D levels in 5,571 young children stratified by age, season or gender.

<p>Values of serum 25(OH)D levels were compared using Mann–Whitney U test.</p><p>^a significant difference between children aged 1y and aged 2y (P<0.001).</p><p>^b Significant difference between children aged 1y and aged 3y (P<0.001).</p><p>^c Significant difference between children aged 2y and aged 3y (P<0.001).</p><p>^d No significant difference between spring and summer (P = 0.076).</p><p>^e Significant difference between spring and autumn (P<0.001).</p><p>^f No significant difference between spring and winter (P = 0.098).</p><p>^g Significant difference between summer and autumn (P<0.001).</p><p>^h Significant difference between summer and winter (P = 0.001).</p><p>ⁱ Significant difference between autumn and winter (P = 0.003).</p><p>^j No significant difference between boys and girls (P = 0.121).</p><p>Comparison of serum 25(OH)D levels in 5,571 young children stratified by age, season or gender.</p

Categories of vitamin D status by age, season or gender (n = 5,571).

<p>^a N, the total number of children in each group.</p><p>^b Within each group, Vitamin D status was presented as the number (percent) of young children in different categories.</p><p>^c Values were compared using the Chi Square (χ²) test. P<0.001 indicated that the difference in the prevalence of diverse vitamin D status among different age or season groups was significant.</p><p>Categories of vitamin D status by age, season or gender (n = 5,571).</p

Serum biochemical characteristics of ICP and control groups.

<p>The data are expressed as the mean ± S.D., **p<0.01 vs. control group.</p

Expression of PPARγ and NF-κB protein in placentas from control group and ICP groups.

<p>(A) Western blotting analysis of placental PPARγ and NF-κB protein expression in control, mild ICP and sever ICP groups. (B) Graphical summary of data on the expression of PPARγ protein. (C) Graphical summary of data on the expression of NF-κB protein. The data are expressed as the mean ± S.D., **<i>p</i><0.01 vs. control group.</p

Expression of PPARγ and NF-κB mRNA in placentas from control group and ICP groups.

<p>(A) RT-PCR analysis of placental PPARγ and NF-κB mRNAexpression in control, mild ICP and sever ICP groups. (B) Graphical summary of data on the expression of PPARγ mRNA. (C) Graphical summary of data on the expression of NF-κB mRNA. The data are expressed as the mean ± S.D., **<i>p</i><0.01 vs. control group.</p