The lack of vitamin D used to be associated with rickets, bone breaks and deformities, which still is seen in countries where malnutrition is a problem. In developed nations, Vitamin D has been added to foods, one way to get it.

Today, children and adults are suffering from a lack of what was called the  “sunshine vitamin” in the pre-computer age. Being exposed to enough sunlight is another path to getting enough Vitamin D. (We will spare you the physiology here.) “Go out and play in the sunshine” was not just good advice in general but one way kids used to get enough of this essential vitamin.

Then things changed in the U.S. The general diet for kids. The lack of outdoor activity.

The pediatric study below shows the cardiovascular risks among children and adolescents who have:

(1) Lower than recommended Vitamin D levels.

(2) Vitamin D deficiency.

(3) Vitamin D insufficiency.

Supplements are the most efficient way to assure children and teenagers (and adults) are getting the correct amounts, says this study, as do other informational sources.

Study authors say that only 4 percent of the participants were taking the recommended dose of Vitamin D.

Parents should have their children checked to make sure that they either have adequate levels or that they are given supplements so they are up to the recommended levels.  They should have their own checked, too.

There are too many serious medical conditions associated with a lack of Vitamin D to ignore this simple prevention step.

Physician’s First Watch

“Low Vitamin D Levels Common in U.S. Children, Linked to Cardiovascular Risk Markers”

“Nearly 10% of U.S. children and adolescents have deficient vitamin D levels, while 60% have insufficient levels, according to a cross-sectional study published online in Pediatrics.” (Emphasis added)

– Factors associated with lower vitamin D levels included older age, female sex, non-Hispanic black or Mexican-American ethnicity, obesity, low milk intake, and nonuse of supplements.

– Vitamin D deficiency (less than 15 ng/mL) was independently associated with lower serum calcium, higher systolic blood pressure, lower HDL cholesterol, elevated parathyroid hormone, and higher prevalence of hypertension.

– Insufficiency (15-29 ng/mL) was associated with higher diastolic BP, lower HDL cholesterol, and greater prevalence of elevated C-reactive protein and parathyroid hormone.

“The authors point out that only 4% of participants were taking the recommended supplement dose.”

Source: Physician’s First Watch, August 21, 2009

Citation: Pediatrics, Published online, August 3, 2009, PEDIATRICS (doi:10.1542/peds.2009-0051)