title: The D-lightful vitamin D for child health.
abstract: Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency is common in children. Vitamin D deficiency is defined as a 25-hydroxyvitamin D <20 ng/mL and insufficiency as 21-29 ng/mL. The major sources of vitamin D are sun exposure, diet, and supplements. In young children, vitamin D deficiency causes a mineralization defect of the skeleton, resulting in rickets. Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to many chronic diseases, including multiple sclerosis, type 1 diabetes, infectious diseases, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes. In utero vitamin D deficiency increases risk for preeclampsia and the need for a cesarean section. Children living at higher latitudes and who are presumed to be at increased risk for vitamin D deficiency are at higher risk for developing type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis later in life. The Institute of Medicine recommends that children 0-1 year and 1-18 years need 400 and 600 IU/d, respectively, of vitamin D for maximal skeletal health. The Endocrine Society's Clinical Guidelines recommended that to prevent and treat vitamin D deficiency, children 0-1 year and 1-18 years need 400-1000 and 600-1000 IU/d, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. mfholick@bu.edu
authors.forename: Michael F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Holick
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D003226:Congresses as Topic; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012279:Rickets / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012307:Risk Factors; D013472:Sunlight; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D