A review on vitamin d deficiency treatment in pediatric patients.
Vitamin D is essential for calcium absorption and for maintaining bone health in the pediatric population. Vitamin D deficiency may develop from nutritional deficiencies, malabsorption, enzyme-inducing medications, and many other etiologies. It may present as hypocalcemia before bone demineralization at periods of increased growth velocity (infancy and adolescence) because the increased calcium demand of the body cannot be met. In children, inadequate concentrations of vitamin D may cause rickets and/or symptomatic hypocalcemia, such as seizures or tetany. In this review, we will discuss the pharmacology behind vitamin D supplementation, laboratory assessments of vitamin D status, current literature concerning vitamin D supplementation, and various supplementation options for the treatment of vitamin D deficiency in the pediatric population.
Department of Pharmacy, University of Florida Health Shands Hospital, Gainesville, Florida.
Ji Yeon
JY
Lee
Department of Pharmacy, Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital, Greensboro, North Carolina.
Tsz-Yin
TY
So
Department of Pharmacy, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.
Jennifer
J
Thackray
cholecalciferol; ergocalciferol; pediatric; vitamin D deficiency