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Vitamin D Deficiency Prevalent in Infants, Toddlers
Vitamin D deficiency may be relatively common in infants and toddlers, according to a study from Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.
Researchers measured serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D in 365 children aged 8 to 24 months. Some 40% of the children had suboptimal vitamin D levels (at or below 30 ng/mL), and 12% were vitamin D deficient (at or below 20 ng/mL). Infants breast-fed without vitamin D supplementation were at increased risk for deficiency, while toddlers who drank more milk were at lower risk.
The authors note that their sample had a higher representation of groups known to be at increased risk for vitamin D deficiency, including black and Hispanic children. They recommend vitamin D supplementation in all young children and potentially screening those with established risk factors for vitamin D deficiency, but an editorialist calls these recommendations "premature."
LINK(S):
Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine article (Free)
Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine editorial (Subscription required)
Reuters story (Free)
Published in Physician's First Watch June 3, 2008
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