Vitamin D status and childhood health.
10.3345/kjp.2013.56.10.417
- Author:
Youn Ho SHIN
1
;
Hye Jung SHIN
;
Yong Jae LEE
Author Information
1. Department of Pediatrics, Gangnam CHA Medical Center, CHA University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords:
Vitamin D;
Vitamin D deficiency;
Child;
Adolescent;
Health
- MeSH:
Adolescent;
Calcification, Physiologic;
Cardiovascular Diseases;
Child;
Congenital Abnormalities;
Female;
Growth Plate;
Humans;
Hypersensitivity;
Infant;
Infant, Newborn;
Insulin Resistance;
Milk;
Mothers;
Obesity;
Osteomalacia;
Osteoporosis;
Pregnancy;
Puberty;
Risk Factors;
Seasons;
Social Class;
Sunlight;
Vitamin D Deficiency;
Vitamin D*;
Vitamins
- From:Korean Journal of Pediatrics
2013;56(10):417-423
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Vitamin D is an essential component of bone and mineral metabolism; its deficiency causes growth retardation and skeletal deformities in children and osteomalacia and osteoporosis in adults. Hypovitaminosis D (vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency) is observed not only in adults but also in infants, children, and adolescents. Previous studies suggest that sufficient serum vitamin D levels should be maintained in order to enhance normal calcification of the growth plate and bone mineralization. Moreover, emerging evidence supports an association between 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) levels and immune function, respiratory diseases, obesity, metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, infection, allergy, cancers, and cardiovascular diseases in pediatric and adolescent populations. The risk factors for vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency in the pediatric population are season (winter), insufficient time spent outdoors, ethnicity (non-white), older age, more advanced stage of puberty, obesity, low milk consumption, low socioeconomic status, and female gender. It is recommended that all infants, children, and adolescents have a minimum daily intake of 400 IU (10 microg) of vitamin D. Since the vitamin D status of the newborn is highly related to maternal vitamin D levels, optimal vitamin D levels in the mother during pregnancy should be maintained. In conclusion, given the important role of vitamin D in childhood health, more time spent in outdoor activity (for sunlight exposure) and vitamin D supplementation may be necessary for optimal health in infants, children, and adolescents.
