Vitamin D & Bone Mineral Density
Low vitamin D levels have been associated with low bone mass, and therapy with vitamin D leads to higher growth velocity. In a study of 85 pediatric patients with primary or secondary osteoporosis, 21% had 25(OH)D levels below 20 ng/ml. In that study there was also a strong correlation between parathyroid hormone levels and 25(OH)D levels suggesting a physiologic impact to the low 25(OH)D levels.[22] Lack of sun exposure because of veiling in mothers is also associated with low bone mass in their children at adolescence.[48] A recent study showed that treatment of nutritional vitamin D deficiency with a 300,000 IU vitamin D3 injection in 40 children revealed a higher growth velocity standard deviation score after therapy compared with normal controls.[49] The children who were treated also showed a lowering of alkaline phosphatase and parathyroid hormone levels and increases in insulin growth factor-I levels. A study in 78 children and adolescents (10–18 years) on long-term therapy with anticonvulsants found similar increases in bone mineral density after a year of 400 IU/day or 2000 IU/day of vitamin D.[50]
Pediatr Health. 2010;4(1):89-97. © 2010 Future Medicine Ltd.
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