Vitamin D is an essential vitamin and is especially critical for bone health in growing children. Once thought to be relatively rare, vitamin D deficiency is on the rise in the United States. Research reported in 2009 in the online newspaper Science Daily found that 70 percent of children ages 1 to 21 have low plasma levels of vitamin D, placing them at risk for bone diseases and other health problems. The study was based on the condition of 6,000 children surveyed by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2001 through 2004.
Importance
Insufficient vitamin D in infancy and childhood may result in a bone condition called rickets. The condition is marked by slow growth, soft bones and skeletal bone malformations. Poor bone mineralization places children and adults at risk of fractures and osteoporosis. Vitamin D deficiency also increases the risk of high blood pressure and heart disease later in life.
Dosage
In 2010, guidelines released by the Institute of Medicine at the National Academy of Science established new recommendations for vitamin D consumption. North American children age 1 and older should receive the Recommended Dietary Allowance of 600 International Units of vitamin D each day. Many children will need a supplement to reach this level. Follow the manufacturer's package instructions for proper dosing, since this depends on the formulation.
Foods
Only a few foods contain vitamin D in their natural form, such as fatty fish. Children can receive vitamin D through fortified foods such as fortified milk. In the United States, the milk supply is fortified with 100 IU of vitamin D per cup. Other fortified foods may include margarine, other dairy products, orange juices and fortified cereals.
Sunlight
Vitamin D is produced by our bodies when the skin is exposed to sunlight. However, the National Institutes of Health recommends limiting sun exposure since the same ultraviolet rays that trigger vitamin D synthesis also predispose individuals to skin cancer. Children should wear protective clothing or sunblock when outdoors. The recommendations for vitamin D dosage in children therefore assume minimal sun exposure. Talk to your pediatrician if you have concerns about your child's vitamin D levels.
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