title: [Vitamin D prophylaxis in childhood].
abstract: The past 10 years have seen a return of rickets. Clinical and/or biochemical signs of vitamin D deficiency are still found in some children and adolescents, mainly during the winter. Sunlight exposure is able to prevent vitamin D deficiency and rickets but the dramatic influence of changes in solar ultraviolet-B radiation on cutaneous vitamin D3 synthesis, related to latitude and season effects, suggest that a vitamin D supplementation may be advisable. Moreover, human milk and common foods contain low quantities of vitamin D. So, we recommend routinely 400 IU of supplementary vitamin D per day in all infants. The vitamin D requirements in low-birth-weight infants are higher than at term infants; it is recommended the use of 1000-1600 IU per day in the first months of life. Intermittent high-dose of vitamin D and vitamin D metabolites are not advisable for prophylaxis of rickets.
authors.affiliation: Cattedra di Pediatria Preventiva e Sociale, Università degli Studi di Pisa.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Saggese
authors.forename: G I
authors.initials: GI
authors.lastname: Baroncelli
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bertelloni
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001851:Bone Diseases, Metabolic / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D001942:Breast Feeding; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008297:Male; D008543:Melanins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry; D010789:Phototherapy; D012279:Rickets / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000506:poisoning / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D008543:Melanins; D014807:Vitamin D
vernacular_title: Profilassi con vitamina D in età pediatrica.