Vitamin D Deficiency In Children: A Growing Problem?
Research on vitamin D has taken on a growing role in recent years, mainly associated with the study of diseases that, in addition to their own alterations, are accompanied by vitamin D deficiency in children.
As it is a growing problem, it requires a considerable number of studies to be carried out. However, what seems clear is that the subject attracts a lot of attention but is, at the same time, a source of controversy. Experts cannot agree on when to order vitamin D tests and when to supplement if necessary.
What do we call vitamin D deficiency?
Lack of the amount of vitamin D needed to be healthy is called vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D plays an important role in the body: in the nervous, muscular and immune systems, among others.
Likewise, vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium, which is at the same time an essential component of bones. Therefore, vitamin D prevents osteopenia, which sometimes occurs in premature babies, according to data from the US National Health Library .
Vitamin D sources
In order to prevent vitamin D deficiency in children, it is important to know some of its production sources:
- by the skin
- With diet and supplements
Although the body produces vitamin D naturally after exposure to sunlight, the problem is that overexposure and at inappropriate times can cause skin aging, and even skin cancer.
Vitamin D deficiency and fear of rickets
As the American Academy of Pediatrics points out, “rickets is a condition that occurs when bones soften in growing children. It happens when the body cannot absorb enough calcium and phosphorus to form healthy, strong bones. Although there are genetic and metabolic causes for rickets, the most common is vitamin D deficiency, also known as nutritional rickets.”
Rickets is a common disease in developing or underdeveloped countries. It is characterized by growth retardation and is accompanied by bone deformation. It usually occurs in children between 6 months and 3 years old, as it is the phase in which they grow faster.
In this sense, scientific entities also warn that babies who are breastfed and who do not consume additional vitamin D are at greater risk. The risk is even greater if the child’s mother is also vitamin D deficient.
Too much vitamin D: a problem to consider
According to information on the same page from the US National Library of Medicine that we mentioned earlier, getting too much vitamin D can also be harmful to the body. This is known as vitamin D toxicity.
The signs of vitamin D toxicity, as shown in this study published in the Boletín Farmacológico , include, among others:
- Nausea
- vomiting
- Lack of appetite
- Constipation
- Weakness
- Weight loss
Too much vitamin D can also damage the kidneys, in addition to increasing the level of calcium in the blood. High levels of calcium in the blood, called hypercalcemia, can cause confusion, disorientation, and heart rhythm problems.
At the same time, researchers from the Drug and Therapeutics Committee, Lawson Wilkins Pediatric Endocrine Society, established that it is necessary to review our knowledge about the sources of vitamin D, both from natural sources and those that are not. Likewise, it is necessary to know the mechanisms by which the synthesis and intake of this vitamin can be optimized.
As for vitamin D deficiency in children…
It is very important to meet the demand for vitamin D needs measured in international units. For this, it is essential not to resort to self-administration, but to counseling and professional guidance.
Likewise, it should be borne in mind that not supplying vitamin D needs can be just as harmful as overdoing it. For that reason, it’s important to strike the right balance between safe sunbathing and getting adequate amounts of vitamin D.
We hope this information about vitamin D deficiency has helped to increase your knowledge of the subject. However, should any doubt arise in this regard, it is always advisable to consult a health care professional to obtain a diagnosis and appropriate treatment, if necessary.
