Bones and beyond: an update on the role of vitamin D in child and adolescent health in Canada.
Knowledge regarding the physiological role and dietary requirements of vitamin D has dramatically expanded over the past several decades. The "new" vitamin D is not only a mediator of calcium homeostasis, but also has important immunomodulatory, anti-microbial, and anti-proliferative actions. Amidst the growing interest in vitamin D as a mediator of many chronic diseases of adulthood such as cancer and type II diabetes, less attention has focused on the implications of the new understanding of vitamin D for child and adolescent health. This article reviews the definition of vitamin D insufficiency (VDI) as it applies to children and adolescents, the current vitamin D status of Canadian children and adolescents, pediatric conditions that may be related to VDI, and the evidence base for current dietary recommendations for vitamin D intake. Pharmacokinetic studies and epidemiologic research that incorporates clinical and functional outcomes are needed to clarify the role of vitamin D in growth and development and the specific dietary vitamin D requirements among Canadian children and adolescents.
Roth
Daniel E
DE
Program in Human Nutrition, Department of International Health, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe St., Room W2041, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. droth@jhsph.edu
D000293:Adolescent; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000187:drug effects*; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D012307:Risk Factors; D009626:Terminology as Topic; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology
D014807:Vitamin D