title: Vitamin D and maternal and child health: overview and implications for dietary requirements.
abstract: The essentiality of vitamin D for normal growth and development has been recognized for over 80 years, and vitamin D fortification programs have been in place in the United States for more than 70 years. Despite the above, vitamin D deficiency continues to be a common finding in certain population groups. Vitamin D deficiency has been suggested as a potential risk factor for the development of preeclampsia, and vitamin D deficiency during infancy and early childhood is associated with an increased risk for numerous skeletal disorders, as well as immunological and vascular abnormalities. Vitamin D deficiency can occur through multiple mechanisms including the consumption of diets low in this vitamin and inadequate exposure to environmental ultraviolet B rays. The potential value of vitamin D supplementation in high-risk pregnancies and during infancy and early childhood is discussed. Currently, there is vigorous debate concerning what constitutes appropriate vitamin D intakes during early development as exemplified by differing recommendations from the Institute of Medicine Dietary Reference Intake report and recent recommendations by the Endocrine Society. As is discussed, a major issue that needs to be resolved is what key biological endpoint should be used when making vitamin D recommendations for the pregnant woman and her offspring.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, Davis, California 95616, USA.
authors.forename: Janet Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Uriu-Adams
authors.forename: Sarah G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Obican
authors.forename: Carl L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Keen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008429:Maternal Welfare; D008875:Middle Aged; D009751:Nutritional Requirements / Q000502:physiology; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D012279:Rickets / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000502:physiology*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D