All issues > Volume 52(10); 2009

Review Article

Korean J Pediatr. 2009;52(10):1082-1089. Published online October 15, 2009.

Recent concepts on vitamin D in children and adolescents

Hye Ran HR Yang¹, Jeong Wan JW Seo¹, Yong Joo YJ Kim², Jae Young JY Kim³, Eell E Ryoo⁴, Jae Geon JG Sim⁵, Hye Won HW Yom⁶, Ju Young JY Chang¹, Ji A JA Jung⁷, Kwang Hae KH Choi⁸

¹Committee on Nutrition; Korean Pediatric Society; Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Seoul
²Committee on Nutrition, Korean Pediatric Society; Department of Pediatrics, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
³Committee on Nutrition, Korean Pediatric Society; Department of Pediatrics, Chungnam National University School of Medicine, Daejeon
⁴Committee on Nutrition, Korean Pediatric Society; Department of Pediatrics, Gachon University, Gil Hospital, Incheon
⁵Committee on Nutrition, Korean Pediatric Society; KSCH Pediatric Clinic, Chung-Ju, Korea
⁶Committee on Nutrition, Korean Pediatric Society; Departments of Pediatrics, Seoul Metropolitan Dong-bu Hospital, Seoul
⁷Committee on Nutrition, Korean Pediatric Society; Department of Nutritional Science, Maeil Daires Co., Ltd, Seoul
⁸Committee on Nutrition, Korean Pediatric Society; Department of Pediatrics, Youngnam University College of Medicine, Daegu, Korea

Correspondence Jeong Wan JW Seo ,Email: jwseo@ewha.ac.kr

Abstract

Vitamin D is an important fat-soluble vitamin that functions as a prohormone and affects bone mineralization and calcium homeostasis. Vitamin D deficiency causesboth musculoskeletal manifestations, including rickets, and extra-musculoskeletal symptoms. Because vitamin D is naturally present in only some foods, intake of daily foods cannot meet the dietary reference intake for vitamin D. Sunlight is the main source of vitamin D in humans therefore, the lack of sunlight can easily cause vitamin D deficiency in children and adolescents. Vitamin D deficiency can be diagnosed on the basis ofits typical clinical manifestation, laboratory tests, and radiologic findings. Detection of vitamin D deficiency in children or adolescents necessitates the simultaneous administration of vitamin D and calcium supplements. To prevent vitamin D deficiency, 200 IU of daily vitamin D intake is recommended in infants, and 400 IU of daily vitamin D intake is recommended in Korean children and adolescents.

Keywords :Vitamin D, Rickets, Deficiency, Children, Adolescents