Vitamin D Deficiency in Children

Abstract

Vitamin D is a prohormone that plays a key role in calciumphosphate metabolism and shows its target effects in the intestine, kidneys and musculoskeletal system. In recent years, it was reported that Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency are related with many chronic diseases such as widespread cancers, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndromes, infectious diseases and autoimmune diseases. Vitamin D deficiency is also a defined risk factor for osteoporosis, falls and fractures. Vitamin D deficiency is now recognized as a global epidemic. 25(OH) Vitamin D levels under 20 ng/mL is accepted as Vitamin D deficiency, levels between 20-29 ng/mL as insufficiency, over 30 ng/ mL as sufficient levels, and over 150 ng/mL as Vitamin D intoxication. Vitamin D deficiency leads to ricketts clinics in children and osteomalacia clinics in adults. In this review, we aimed to define Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency which is currently widespread in children, and to provide a current approach to the treatment methods.