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Vitamin D in Toddlers, Preschool Children, and Adolescents.

Annals of nutrition & metabolism
January 1, 2020
Sarah N Taylor
Journal ArticleResearch Support, N.I.H., ExtramuralReviewHuman Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to evaluate the association between vitamin D status and pediatric bone health, as well as potential broader health benefits.

Results Summary

Observational studies suggest vitamin D levels of 50 nmol/L prevent rickets and 75 nmol/L optimize health, but randomized trials show equivocal results. Supplementation of 10-50 μg/day appears safe and may benefit pediatric health beyond bone outcomes.

Population

Children (toddlers, children, and adolescents)

Effective Dosage

10-50 μg/day

Duration

Not specified

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (11)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
Vitamin D supplementation
decrease
rickets
-
-
is known to both prevent and treat
#1
Vitamin D status, as indicated by a 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration
decrease
rickets
-
50 nmol/L
ensure avoidance
#2
Vitamin D status, as indicated by a 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration
increase
health
-
75 nmol/L
optimize health
#3
Pediatric vitamin D supplementation
no change
pediatric health outcomes
children
-
no specific pediatric vitamin D supplementation has been established
#4
Vitamin D supplementation
no change
safety
children
10-50 μg/day
appears to be safe
#5
Vitamin D supplementation
increase
pediatric health
children
10-50 μg/day
remains a promising intervention
#6
Pediatric vitamin D status
decrease
rickets
children
-
is associated with avoidance
#7
Vitamin D supplementation
no change
pediatric bone health
children
-
Randomized, controlled trials of vitamin D supplementation for pediatric bone health are limited and equivocal
#8
Higher vitamin D status
decrease
risk for autoimmune, infectious, and allergic diseases
-
-
decreased risk for autoimmune, infectious, and allergic diseases has been associated
#9
Vitamin D supplementation
no change
toddler, child, and adolescent outcomes
toddlers, children, and adolescents
-
The specific vitamin D supplementation to optimize toddler, child, and adolescent outcomes is unknown
#10
Vitamin D supplementation
increase
safety and benefit
-
10-50 μg/day
doses are safe and may be beneficial
#11
Abstract

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D supplementation is known to both prevent and treat rickets, a disease of hypomineralized bone. Childhood is a period of great bone development and, therefore, attention to the vitamin D needed to optimize bone health in childhood is imperative. SUMMARY: Observational studies have pointed to a vitamin D status, as indicated by a 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration, of 50 nmol/L to ensure avoidance of rickets and of 75 nmol/L to optimize health. However, the benefits of achieving these levels of vitamin D status are less evident when pediatric randomized, controlled trials are performed. In fact, no specific pediatric vitamin D supplementation has been established by the existing evidence. Yet, study of vitamin D physiology continues to uncover further potential benefits to vitamin D sufficiency. This disconnection between vitamin D function and trials of supplementation has led to new paths of investigation, including establishment of the best method to measure vitamin D status, examination of genetic variation in vitamin D metabolism, and consideration that vitamin D status is a marker of another variable, such as physical activity, and its association with bone health. Nevertheless, vitamin D supplementation in the range of 10-50 μg/day appears to be safe for children and remains a promising intervention that may yet be supported by clinical trials as a method to optimize pediatric health. Key Message: Pediatric vitamin D status is associated with avoidance of rickets. Randomized, controlled trials of vitamin D supplementation for pediatric bone health are limited and equivocal in their results. Beyond bone, decreased risk for autoimmune, infectious, and allergic diseases has been associated with higher vitamin D status. The specific vitamin D supplementation to optimize toddler, child, and adolescent outcomes is unknown, but doses 10-50 μg/day are safe and may be beneficial.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
AdolescentBone DensityBone DevelopmentChildChild Nutritional Physiological PhenomenaChild, PreschoolDietary SupplementsFemaleHumansInfantMaleNutritional StatusRicketsVitamin DVitamin D Deficiency
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy60/10
Quality75/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations38
Citations/Year7.6
Relative Citation Ratio3.68
NIH Percentile88.8%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.95
Weight Score2.45
Normalized Score0.59
Related Supplements
Vitamin D in Toddlers, Preschool Children, and Adolescents. | Panacea Index