Vitamin D Deficiency in Kids

Vitamin D is necessary for the health of your bones and muscles. It aids in the absorption of calcium and phosphate from meals, which are essential for strong and healthy bones. However Vitamin D is found naturally in only a few foods (certain types of fish), so getting enough vitamin D from food alone is difficult.

Essential for bone health and development, especially in growing children

• Demand begins during the embryonic stage and continues through life
• Sunlight is a great source, but many kids don't get enough
• Poor dietary habits contribute to vitamin D deficiency
• Importance of ensuring kids get enough vitamin D

Importance of Vitamin D In Children

• Essential for bone growth and development in children
• Helps the body absorb calcium
• Builds strong bones and teeth
• Acts as a hormone
• Crucial for immune system regulation, cell growth, and insulin production
• Supports newborn development in the womb
• Prevents severe deficiency symptoms: rickets, delayed motor development, muscle weakness, aches, pains, and fractures

Vitamin D Deficiency

Vitamin D deficiency can cause risks, a disease that can result in bone deformity and fractures. It also keeps children from reaching their genetically programmed height and peak bone mass. Children might be at higher risk of Vitamin D deficiency:

• Keep their entire body covered
• They spend most of their time indoors and do not receive much or any sunlight.
• Have a condition that affects how the body regulates vitamin D levels, such as liver illness, kidney disease, or disorders that make it difficult to absorb food
• Take drugs that affect Vitamin D levels
• Have darker skin

How Much Vitamin D Does a Child Need?

Vitamin D is measured in international units (IU). Babies younger than 1 year need 400 IU per day; while kids older than 1 year need 600 IU a day. In certain cases, kids might need extra amounts of vitamin D, which include:

• Medical problems such as obesity, celiac disease, multiple fractures, bone pain, or cystic fibroids.
• After a bone surgery for recovery
• Use of medicines for seizures, which block the way the body uses vitamin D.

Vitamin D Foods For Kids

Vitamin D can be acquired from three main sources. They include Sunlight, diet, and supplements.:

Vitamin D From Sunlight

Vitamin D is called sunshine vitamin as sunlight is the best source of vitamin D. kids need sunlight on their skin so that their body can make vitamin D. In this way, one can get about 80% of their vitamin D requirement.

However a child's body will not be able to make vitamin D when covered with clothing or sunscreen to block the rays of the sun at the time of exposure to sunlight. Though it's hard to estimate how much time one should spend in the sun to get enough vitamin D, it is suggested to spend at least 5 to 30 minutes in sunlight between 10 A.M and 3 P.M twice a week.

Vitamin D From Food

Since most children spend their time indoors, it's hard for their bodies to make enough vitamin D from sunlight. So, children should be given foods that are good sources of vitamin D. Foods that contain vitamin D naturally include salmon, liver, mushrooms, and egg yolks. Vitamin D is added to some foods, such as low-fat dairy products, cereals, and margarine. And all infant formulas contain vitamin D.

Vitamin D Supplements

Kids who have mild deficiencies of vitamin D are suggested to get it from sunlight and diet. But if kids have severe vitamin D deficiency, they are prescribed vitamin D supplements. Vitamin D supplements can be a large, single dose or might be in smaller doses for several weeks or months.

Vitamin D Deficiency in Babies

Since vitamin D is crucial for kids in all the developmental stages of their lives, parents should ensure their children are getting enough vitamin D. So here are some ways in which parents can make sure their children get enough vitamin D.

• Encourage kids to play outdoor sports. This can help their body to make vitamin D from sunlight.
• Since salmon is one of the best sources of vitamin D, make a meal for kids with fatty fish on regular basis.
• There are vitamin D-fortified eggs. So get the right kind of eggs and prepare egg-based recipes that kids could enjoy.
• Offer vitamin D-fortified milk to kids. This is the best way to give the kids the nutrients they require.
• If kids are not getting enough vitamin D from sunlight and diet, giving them a daily vitamin D supplement on the doctor's advice is a suitable alternative.

Frequently Asked Questions