Vitamin D deficiency in children and adolescents: epidemiology, impact and treatment.
Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent among children and adolescents worldwide. The high rates of vitamin D deficiency during childhood are of major public health relevance, given the growing evidence that vitamin D deficiency may play a key role in the pathophysiology of many chronic diseases beyond rickets, including autoimmune conditions, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. Identification, treatment, and prevention of vitamin D deficiency in childhood may therefore have profound health effects throughout the life span. In this review, we discuss the definitions, epidemiology, clinical implications, and treatment of vitamin D deficiency in children and adolescents.
Huh
Susanna Y
SY
Division of Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Children's Hospital Boston, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Susanna.Huh@childrens.harvard.edu
Gordon
Catherine M
CM
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D015995:Prevalence; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control