Vitamin D in pediatric age

Introduction: vitamin D plays a pivotal role in the regulation of calcium-phosphorus metabolism, particularly during pediatric age when nutritional rickets and impaired bonemass acquisition may occur. Method: A systematic search was used to review relevant research and clinical review Result: Besides its historical skeletal functions, in the last years it has been demonstrated that vitamin D directly or indirectly regulates up to 1250 genes, playing so-called extra skeletal actions. Indeed, recent data suggest a possible role of vitamin D in the pathogenesis of several pathological conditions, including infectious, allergic and autoimmune diseases. Thus, vitamin D deficiency may affect not only musculoskeletal health but also a potentially wide range of acute and chronic conditions. At present, the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency is high in children and adolescents, and national recommendations on vitamin D supplementation during pediatric age are lacking. Conclusion: Vitamin D supplementation in the first year of life is essential to ensure an adequate vitamin D status and to prevent nutritional rickets. Indeed, newborns and infants are poorly exposed to sunlight, as the Section on Dermatology of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommended that infants younger than 6 months of age should be kept out of direct sunlight and covered with appropriate protective clothing and hats.

کلیدواژه ها:

Vitamin D ، Supplementation ، Children ، Adolescents ، Deficiency ،