Most children have a Vitamin D deficiency
-Most children have a deficiency of vitamin D. This is according to a study from the journal Pediatrics.
Vitamin D is one of the essential fat soluble vitamins and regulates calcium absorption in the intestine. Vitamin D deficiencies can lead to Rickets, a bone disease. Recent research has shown that many other diseases are also associated with vitamin D deficiencies such as:
heart disease, asthma, memory impairment and certain forms of cancer.
· The current study reports that 7 out of 10 children in the United States have insufficient levels of vitamin D.or
As many as 10% of all children have deficiencies in VItamin D that put them at risk for certain diseases.
Researchers of this study analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) which included about 6,300 children.
· People can get dietary vitamin D from drinking milk and eating dairy products and fish. Vitamin D is also made with sun exposure.
The bone disease Rickets is caused by vitamin D deficiencies and cases of Rickets have been increasing. In the United States, the last epidemic of Rickets occurred at the end of the 1800s before Vitamin D was added to milk.
· The current deficiencies in vitamin D are likely related to the widespread use of sunscreens.
· This is an important study because it demonstrates the extent of vitamin D deficiency in children and highlights possible risks.
Vitamin D deficiency can be easily corrected by delaying sunscreen after ten minutes of sun exposure, increasing vitamin D in the diet or by taking a Vitamin D supplement.
Cristopher Geiler, M.D.
Reference
Pediatrics
Posted on August 6, 2009
