title: Recognition and management of vitamin D deficiency.
abstract: Vitamin D deficiency affects persons of all ages. Common manifestations of vitamin D deficiency are symmetric low back pain, proximal muscle weakness, muscle aches, and throbbing bone pain elicited with pressure over the sternum or tibia. A 25-hydroxyvitamin D level should be obtained in patients with suspected vitamin D deficiency. Deficiency is defined as a serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level of less than 20 ng per mL (50 nmol per L), and insufficiency is defined as a serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level of 20 to 30 ng per mL (50 to 75 nmol per L). The goal of treatment is to normalize vitamin D levels to relieve symptoms and decrease the risk of fractures, falls, and other adverse health outcomes. To prevent vitamin D deficiency, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that infants and children receive at least 400 IU per day from diet and supplements. Evidence shows that vitamin D supplementation of at least 700 to 800 IU per day reduces fracture and fall rates in adults. In persons with vitamin D deficiency, treatment may include oral ergocalciferol (vitamin D2) at 50,000 IU per week for eight weeks. After vitamin D levels normalize, experts recommend maintenance dosages of cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) at 800 to 1,000 IU per day from dietary and supplemental sources.
authors.affiliation: St Luke's Family Medicine Residency Program, Bethlehem, PA 18017 , USA.
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bordelon
authors.forename: Maria V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Ghetu
authors.forename: Robert C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Langan
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D014815:Vitamins; D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D