Vitamin D insufficiency is generally seen in adults and is appearing in the world of pediatrics. The lower rates of vitamin D deficiency is also one of the reasons for rickets in children and the only way out can be that the amount of nutritional vitamin D and sun exposure intake should be increased.
According to the latest study held by physicians and researchers at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, for the first time it was observed that Vitamin D deficiency was more common in pediatric patients who are suffering with low bone density.
The study had analyzed 85 patients out of which 80 percent of the people were found to be suffering from vitamin D insufficiency. Patients had past records of bone fragility and certain chronic medical conditions which indicates the risk of osteoporosis and this disease doesn’t occur only in adults. Children too are found to have the basis of this disease.
Vitamin D insufficiency accounts to low bone mass and also worsens the metabolic bone if untreated. Vitamin D is necessary in the development of bone and mineralization in children and adult.
The study’s lead author, Sasigarn Bowden, MD, a pediatric endocrinologist and attending physician in the Metabolic Bone Clinic at Nationwide Children’s explains, “We need to check vitamin D levels in all patients with history of multiple fractures or low bone density and treat the vitamin D problem if the levels are low. The supplementation of vitamin D should be a priority in the management of pediatric patients with osteoporosis or osteopenia in order to optimize their bone health and potentially prevent fractures.”
Some major factors which contribute for vitamin D insufficiency in different severe medical conditions comprise of low vitamin D intake and low sun exposure.
“Due to the number of recent studies of healthy children or adolescents with a high prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency, the public should be aware of the fact that it is common, especially living in high altitude,” said Bowden, also an assistant professor of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. “Sometimes our vitamin D levels get low at the end of winter due to less exposure to sunlight, but if we take a multivitamin D supplement, or consume an adequate amount of vitamin D from dietary sources such as vitamin D fortified milk or orange juice, we should be okay throughout the entire year.”
Through four studies conducted in Europe it has been found that 80 percent of healthy children and adults suffered insufficient vitamin D levels during winter season.