Posted on 07/21/2009 8:48:44 AM PDT by neverdem
BOSTON — The high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency found in a cohort of healthy children in a sunny Southwestern climate has prompted a call by the study's investigators for generalized routine screening of vitamin D levels among all children.
In a study designed to assess vitamin D levels in children living in a region with year-round sunshine and to compare vitamin D levels in children with vague musculoskeletal pain with those of children without pain, Dr. Elizabeth A. Szalay and her colleagues at the University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque retrospectively studied the serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) levels of 77 healthy children who were seen for musculoskeletal pain but who lacked a concrete diagnosis to explain their pain (pain group). They also prospectively obtained serum 25(OH)D levels from 35 healthy children without pain.
The study included healthy children aged 2-16 years old who were freely ambulatory and could play outside as they chose. It excluded children with any endocrinopathy and those taking medications that affect vitamin D metabolism, Dr. Szalay said at the annual meeting of the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America.
The study population (mean age, 9 years) included 66 girls and 46 boys, and was primarily Hispanic (59) and white (37). The average 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels for the pain and control groups were not statistically different, at 28 ng/mL and 31 ng/mL.
The mean 25(OH)D level was 29 ng/mL. “While there is no consensus on optimal serum vitamin D levels in children, optimal calcium absorption is seen between 40 and 100 ng/mL,” she said. “Vitamin D deficiency is defined by most experts as a [25-hydroxyvitamin D] level less than 20 ng/mL.”
Collectively, only 13% of the children had vitamin D levels in the optimal range, while 33% had levels from 30 to 39 ng/mL, 35% had levels from 20 to 29 ng/mL, 16% had levels from 10 to 19 ng/mL, and 3% had levels less than 10 ng/mL—the level at which rachitic changes may occur.
The findings seem to suggest that modern lifestyles, even among children living in sun-rich regions, may be taking an ever greater toll on pediatric vitamin D levels and indirectly on pediatric bone health, said Dr. Szalay.
“Concern over hypovitaminosis D in children is warranted and routine screening should, at the very least, be considered,” said Dr. Szalay, who reported having no conflicts of interest.
I didn’t think tanning beds helped.
Depends on the bed. Vitamin D is made from UVB but not UVA. As long as the lamps have adequate UVB you get a nice blast of D.
WOW....I’m due to have mine checked again....since I’ve been taking all this D3 it will be interesting to see if it’s up from the 38 of last year....
I used to take 400 IU's a day until about 6 months ago and then I began taking 2000 a day as most of the literature I was reading said 400 was too low.
I can't say that I feel any better but I haven't been sick. Also, I view myself as building up my 'system' for any sort of flu virus this fall/winter. Afterall, we are in a pandemic presently!!
Thanks Civ, for this very important information. With every new study, the need for Vitamin D supplements is confirmed
She also works out about 4 or 5 times a week and we get as much sunshine as we can stand here in Texas.
I wonder if I should double the amount I’m taking. I’m only taking 1000 per day, last time I was checked my level was up but still somewhat low. Hmmm...
Interestingly, all of my bone density tests have come out excellent. That may be attributable to much weight bearing exercise in my younger years.
Probably wouldn't hurt anything.
Yeah, I think they have changed their thinking about overdosing on D. I think I’ll jump it up.
You’re never told to keep doing those exercises. (although to a lesser degree)
Keep up the good work!
Yeah well, at my age, walking 25 minutes seems to be as much work as an hour long aerobic class was in my 20s! LOL
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