Vitamin D in Toddlers, Preschool Children, and Adolescents.
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
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
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.