Vitamin D and Screening for Kids (August 2012)
According to John Hopkins Children’s Center Vitamin D deficiency can be a problem year round, but because sun exposure is critical for Vitamin D synthesis and production, the winter months may further exacerbate what is now a recurrent problem.
Levels at or below 20 ng/mL are considered suboptimal. Levels below 15 ng/mL define deficiency and should be treated with supplementation.
Experts from Hopkins say that pediatricians should screen all children for risk factors and order blood tests for those that are high risk. Children at high risk for vitamin D deficiency include the following:
- *those with vitamin D-poor diets
- *obese children
- *breast-fed infants because breast milk contains minimal vitamin D
- *those with certain medical conditions including cystic fibrosis, IDDM & NIDDM and certain gastrointestinal disorders such as IBD which can interfere with absorption
- *those with darker skin because darker skin synthesizes less vitamin D from sun exposure than lighter skin.
Several large scale studies have found that vitamin D deficiency is widespread- one in 10 US children is estimated to be deficient and that 60% of children have suboptimal levels of vitamin D. Prolonged and untreated vitamin D deficiency can affect multiple organs and functions, including bone growth and density, metabolism, the heart and immunity. It rarely causes symptoms that will go unnoticed.
Vitamin D deficiency in childhood can cause skeletal deformities, brittle bones, frequent fractures and lead to premature osteoporosis later in life. The positive news is that once detected, vitamin D deficiency usually can be corrected with high dose supplementation. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends all breast fed infants receive supplemental 400 IUs daily until they’re weaned and start consuming vitamin D fortified formula or other foods. The recommended daily intake of vitamin D is 400 IUs for children younger than 1 year, and 600 IUs for those older than 1 year.
Food sources that are great sources of vitamin D include: sardines, egg yolks, vitamin D fortified orange juice, cereals, yogurt cheese and vitamin D fortified milk.
