title: Vitamin D in European children-statement from the European Academy of Paediatrics (EAP).
abstract: Vitamin D is synthesized in human skin upon sun exposure and is also a nutrient. It regulates calcium and phosphate metabolism and is essential for the maintenance of bone health. Vitamin D supplementation during infancy, in order to prevent rickets, is universally accepted. Many human cell types carry vitamin D receptor, this being a drive for conducting studies on the possible association between vitamin D status and other diseases. Studies have affirmed that a considerable number of healthy European children may be vitamin D deficient, especially in high-risk groups (darker pigmented skin, living in areas with reduced sun exposure and other disorders). However, the definition of deficiency is unclear due to inter assay differences and due to a lack of consensus as to what is an "adequate" 25(OH)D level. Therefore, there is no justification for routine screening for vitamin D deficiency in healthy children. An evaluation of vitamin D status is justified in children belonging to high-risk groups. All infants up to 1 year of age should receive an oral supplementation of 400 IU/day of vitamin D. Beyond this age, seasonal variation of sunlight should be taken into account when considering a national policy of supplementation or fortification.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Clinic, Maccabi Health Services, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Zachi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Grossman
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Larnaca General Hospital, Larnaca, Cyprus. adamos@paidiatros.com.|School of Medicine, European University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus. adamos@paidiatros.com.
authors.forename: Adamos
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hadjipanayis
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.|Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Stiris
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento della Sanità Pubblica, ULSS 6, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Del Torso
authors.affiliation: Service de Pédiatrie-Urgences, Hôpital Louis Mourier, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris and Université Paris Diderot, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Christophe
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Mercier
authors.affiliation: Vilnius University Clinic of Children's Diseases and Public Health Institute, Vilnius, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Arunas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Valiulis
authors.affiliation: Institute for Gastroenterology, Nutrition and Liver Diseases, Schneider Children's Medical Center, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Raanan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shamir
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005060:Europe; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D064167:Recommended Dietary Allowances; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014815:Vitamins / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D014815:Vitamins; D014807:Vitamin D
keywords: European Academy of Paediatrics; Vitamin D