Prevention and Management of Vitamin D Deficiency in Children: Part II. Vitamin D Supplementation
Prevention and Management of Vitamin D Deficiency in Children: Part II. Vitamin D Supplementation
The previous issue of Pediatric Pharmacotherapy reviewed recent studies documenting the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and the need to increase dietary vitamin D intake. Several papers published within the last five years have highlighted the growing incidence of vitamin D deficiency, defined as a serum hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] level less than 20 ng/mL, in infants, children, and adolescents world-wide. As a result of these epidemiologic studies and new information on the role of vitamin D in preventing autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular disease, and cancer, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Lawson Wilkins Pediatric Endocrine Society have published updated guidelines which recommend increasing the daily intake of vitamin D to 400 International Units for infants and children. Vitamin D supplements may be necessary for those patients unable to meet this standard with dietary intake alone, including breast-fed infants. This issue of the newsletter will review the pharmacology of oral vitamin D supplements and provide recommendations for dosing and monitoring.
Introduction
Introduction
The previous issue of Pediatric Pharmacotherapy reviewed recent studies documenting the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and the need to increase dietary vitamin D intake. Several papers published within the last five years have highlighted the growing incidence of vitamin D deficiency, defined as a serum hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] level less than 20 ng/mL, in infants, children, and adolescents world-wide. As a result of these epidemiologic studies and new information on the role of vitamin D in preventing autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular disease, and cancer, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Lawson Wilkins Pediatric Endocrine Society have published updated guidelines which recommend increasing the daily intake of vitamin D to 400 International Units for infants and children. Vitamin D supplements may be necessary for those patients unable to meet this standard with dietary intake alone, including breast-fed infants. This issue of the newsletter will review the pharmacology of oral vitamin D supplements and provide recommendations for dosing and monitoring.
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