title: Vitamin D deficiency and prevention: Turkish experience.
abstract: A nationwide 'vitamin D prophylaxis augmentation programme' initiated in 2005 in Turkey reduced the prevalence of rickets from 6% in 1998 to 0.1% in 2008 in children under 3 years of age. The programme included free distribution of vitamin D drops to all newborns and infants (0-12 months) visiting primary health stations throughout the country. Free disposal of vitamin D to infants is an effective strategy for preventing vitamin D-deficient rickets.
authors.affiliation: Division of Paediatric Endocrinology, Department of Paediatrics, Kocaeli University, Kocaeli, Turkey.
authors.forename: Şükrü
authors.initials: Ş
authors.lastname: Hatun
authors.forename: Behzat
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ozkan
authors.forename: Abdullah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bereket
mesh_terms: D002762:Cholecalciferol / Q000172:deficiency / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D012279:Rickets / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D002762:Cholecalciferol