All Children Should Be Screened for Vitamin D Deficiency

Pediatricians should screen all children at risk for vitamin D deficiency, and order blood tests for those found to be at high risk.

Children at risk for vitamin D deficiency include those with poor vitamin diets, breast-fed infants, obese children, and those with darker skin because darker skin synthesizes less vitamin D from sun exposure than lighter skin.

Certain medical conditions, including cystic fibrosis, type 1 and 2 diabetes, gastrointestinal disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease, can interfere with food absorption and put the child at risk for Vitamin D deficiency.

Many studies have shown the fundamental role vitamin D plays in disease and health; vitamin D deficiency often develops insidiously in childhood. Every parent and pediatrician should be aware of the risk said physicians from the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center (Baltimore, MD, USA).

“Vitamin D deficiency can be a problem year round, but because sun exposure is critical for vitamin D synthesis and production, the winter months further exacerbate what is a perennial problem,” said Johns Hopkins Children’s Center endocrinologist Dominique Long, MD.

Vitamin D deficiency in childhood can cause skeletal deformities, brittle bones, frequent fractures, and lead to premature osteoporosis in later life. Recent studies have found a link between low vitamin D levels and some cancers, heart disease, suppressed immunity, and even premature death. These studies do not show that vitamin D deficiency can cause cancer or heart disease but do suggest that vitamin D may be a powerful player in the development of such disorders.

To prevent vitamin D deficiency, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all breastfed infants receive supplemental 400 IU daily until they are weaned and start consuming vitamin D-fortified formula or other foods. The recommended daily dietary intake of vitamin D is 400 IU for children younger than 1 year, and 600 IU for those older than 1 year.

Related Links:
Johns Hopkins Children’s Center