Vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency from childhood to adulthood: Insights from a sunny country

Abstract

Vitamin D is known to be a key regulator of bone metabolism and is associated with muscle strength. Vitamin D deficiency is widely prevalent worldwide. In adults, vitamin D deficiency has been implicated in numerous health conditions including osteoporosis, cancer, diabetes, and autoimmune diseases. Considerable changes have occurred in lifestyles and childhood activities in the past years. Studies have shown that the children population is at high risks of vitamin D deficiency. The objective of this study was to learn about the extent of vitamin D deficiency in children worldwide and especially in sunny country like Israel. In this article we reviewed the extent and severity of vitamin D deficiency worldwide and especially in Israel, through a very comprehensive review of previous reports and research studies done during the last years. We found reports on vitamin D deficiency in children, which was associated with metabolic syndromes and obesity. It was more prevalent in children who spend less time on outdoor activities, in obese children, and in cases when there was imbalance between nutritional intakes and requirements. Vitamin D deficiency is common even in children living in sunny places like Israel. Health professionals should be aware of the fact that although vitamin D deficiency is prevalent in the elderly population, it is also common in children, and can be associated with different illnesses. We encourage supplementation of vitamin D to special populations (pregnant and lactating women, infants, and high risk groups). We also encourage implementation of international food fortification programs.

Keywords: Vitamin D; Deficiency; Children; Obesity; Bone metabolism; Muscle strength; Osteoporosis; Non-skeletal diseases

Core tip: Vitamin D is known to be a key regulator of bone metabolism and muscle strength. Vitamin D deficiency is widely prevalent worldwide. In this article we emphasize that vitamin D status may be also related to a number of non-skeletal diseases, including cardiovascular events, cancer, diabetes, and autoimmune diseases. Obesity has also been recently associated with vitamin D insufficiency. We demonstrate that the pediatric population is also at high risks of vitamin D deficiency. Studies that investigated the status of vitamin D deficiency in Israel, which is a known multi-cultural sunny country, revealed a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency.