Vitamin D is an essential, fat-soluble vitamin that is critical for bone health during adolescence. New evidence has revealed that vitamin D deficiency is more widespread than previously thought among American teens. The Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences revised its vitamin D recommendations in 2010, increasing the recommended daily intake for teens and adults to 600 International Units.
Deficiency
ScienceDaily.com reports on a study by physicians at the Department of Public Health at Weill Cornell Medical College. They examined the blood plasma levels of 2,955 American adolescents aged 12 to 19. Among this group, one in seven teens was deficient in vitamin D, with serum levels less than 20 nanograms per milliliter.
Risk Factors
VItamin D production by the body depends on exposure of the skin to sunlight. High melanin content in darker skin reduces the skin's ability to produce vitamin D. Among the study group, half of African-American teens were deficient in vitamin D. Girls and overweight teens were twice as likely to have inadequate vitamin D levels as boys and normal-weight peers.
Teen Health Problems
Adolescence is the critical time for bone formation. Insufficient vitamin D during these years can cause poor growth and mineralization. This may lead to osteomalacia, a condition of bone softening or osteopenia, a condition of low bone mass. Over time, osteopenia can progress to osteoporosis, a disease of brittle and fragile bones that fracture easily.
Adult Health Problems
In adults, vitamin D deficiency has been linked to cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, immune dysfunction and high blood pressure. In pregnant women, it may increase the risk of pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes. However, the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences has reviewed these studies and found that the results are mixed and said that more research is required before vitamin D can be recommended to prevent these health problems.
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