Vitamin D Deficiency in Children and Adolescents
Low 25 (OH) D Levels Common in Overweight African American Teens
© Dr. Vandana Bhide

More adolescents in the US have Vitamin D deficiency than previously thought. Overweight African American adolescent girls are at highest risk for low levels of Vitamin D
Recent studies show an alarming lack of vitamin D, also called cholecalciferol, in American children and adolescents.
Vitamin D is important for the development of strong bones. Vitamin D deficiency can lead to rickets (weak, deformed bones) in infants and children. It also contributes to osteoporosis(thinning of the bones) in post-menopausal women. Vitamin D may also contribute to high blood pressure, diabetes and certain cancers.
Vitamin D (Cholecalciferol) is Important to Prevent Rickets and Osteoporosis
Sunlight is Needed for Vitamin D to be Made in the Skin
Vitamin D is available to the body in two different ways. Sun exposure helps the skin make vitamin D. Not surprisingly, vitamin D deficiency is more common in northern parts of the country, where there is less sunlight. Melanin, the pigment in the skin, as well as sunblock applied to skin, can decrease the absorption of vitamin D. The more melanin in the skin, the darker the pigment of the skin, and the less vitamin D that is absorbed. Regular application of sunblock to the skin will also decrease absorption of sun. It is not recommended to stop using sunblock simply to allow the absorption of vitamin D, since the ultraviolet rays can increase the risk of skin cancers.
Vitamin D can be Absorbed in the Stomach
200 IU (international units) of vitamin D is the daily recommended intake of vitamin D in children and adolescents. Post-menopausal women should have at least 400 IU a day to prevent thinning of the bones. Many experts feel that this recommendation is too conservative, and that post-menopausal women need more than 400 IU daily to prevent/treat osteoporosis.
Dr.Vandana Bhide
-
Recent Posts
- “Social at Mayo Clinic” YouTube Video Educates Mayo Clinic Employees about Social Media Best Practices
- Healthcare Social Media and Physician eProfessionalism Mayo Clinic Florida Grand Rounds
- Mayo Clinic Center for Social Media Residency Helps Me with Patient and Physician Engagment in Social Media
- Diane Morgan Recipe for Curried Pumpkin Hummus
- My Friend Senator George McGovern–Gentleman and Statesman
- How to Please a Picky Eater (Toddler or Teenager)
- The Search for Google (Mount Rushmore Road Show)
- Top Ten Items for Your Medicine Cabinet
- Study Shows Hyperbaric Oxygen Helped Children with Autism
- Early Signs of Depression and Suicide Prevention
- How to Detect the Early Signs of Depression
- When is a Child Old Enough to be Left Home Alone?
- Mediterranean Diet
- The Mediterranean Diet Health Benefits Revisited
- Healthy Chicken and Mushrooms Fricassee
- The Search for Google: A Commentary on Social Media in our Lives
- Antioxidants, Epigenetics and How to Decrease the Risk of Cancer
- Super Fruits for Health (Or Why Purple is the New Green)
- Restriction Elimination Diet Helps ADHD Without Medication
- Leptin, the Body Fat Hormone
- Super Foods for Kids
- Mirror Mirror On the Wall, Which Friday is Blackest of Them All?
- Dr. Vee’s Radio Show Interview About Feeling Good During Menopause: Conversation with Dr. Nancy on Womenspeak.Com
- McNeill Recall of Infants’ and Children’s Tylenol, Motrin, Zyrtec and Benadryl
- Non-Hormonal Treatment of Menopausal Symptoms and Four Leaf Clovers
- The Art of Aging Well: Build Strength and Muscle Tone
- Oh, My Aching Back! (Dr. Vee Contributed to AOL Health Article)
- The Tylenol Recall–What a Headache!
- The Children’s Television Act 1990-2010
- Feeling Patriotic (and Groovy)
- Is It a Wash? Antibacterial VS Regular Soap
- No PayDay Loan Needed!
- Run and Eat–Race for the Taste 5K Run to Benefit EPIC Community Services
- Meisner Technique Showcase
- Uh Uh Tomorrow is Payday
- Margin Players–The Shadow of the Pelican
- Homeopathy, Supplements, Omega 3 Fatty Acids and Probiotics–Benefits to Children
- What an Exhausting Day!
- Margin Players–Theater Fun
- Music Enriches our Lives!
- Lavender and Tea Tree Oil May Cause Breast Development in Young Boys
- Lose Weight by Increasing Fat Burning Capacity through Exercise
- How to Begin a Bone and Muscle Strengthening Program Smartly
- St.John’s Wort–The P450 Superwoman
- A Foreign Language: The Medical Billing System
- Statins and Beta Blockers Deplete CoQ10
- Garlic–The Russian Penicillin
- Lycopene
- Super Foods
- Health Benefits of the Mediterranean Diet
Recent Comments
Survival Guide for P… on How to Please a Picky Eater (T… Brianne on Probiotics Prevent Diarrhea Re… EDIE PEPPER on My Friend Senator George McGov… Dr.Vee on The Search for Google (Mount R… Eleanor Brennan on The Search for Google (Mount R… Terry Hummel on Statins and Beta Blockers Depl… kazim on Probiotics Prevent Diarrhea Re… The Mediterranean Di… on Healthy Chicken and Mushrooms… The Mediterranean Di… on Lycopene kiren jaswal on The Search for Google: A Comme… Constance Callahan on Probiotics Prevent Diarrhea Re… praanamd on The Search for Google: A Comme… Kim Miller on The Search for Google: A Comme… Health Care Billing on A Foreign Language: The Medica… kim miller on Antioxidants, Epigenetics and… Archives
- May 2013
- February 2013
- November 2012
- October 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- January 2012
- October 2011
- August 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- November 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
Meta
Dr. Vandana Bhide
Walk for Better Health
Keep Our Children Safe
Antibiotic Use and Clostridium difficile Infections
Cutting Salt from Your Diet Can Help Control Your Blood Pressure
Binge Drinking
HIV Infection Prevention
New Hope for Stopping HIV–World AIDS Day December 1
How to Find an HIV Testing Center Near You
Breastfeeding is Best for Your Baby
Dangers of Painkillers
Teen Pregnancy
VeeMD
- MT @mightycasey: #Florida #Medical Center CEO Plans To Publish Pricing Data Online ow.ly/lmcwLDr. Vandana Bhide 1 day ago
- MT @futuredocs: Facebook Use by Hospital Workers Increases When ER Is Busy: Study zite.to/1adDfeb #mededDr. Vandana Bhide 1 day ago
- MT @jeanette_bravoj: I did used to know this. Worth relearning: Weber test: affected ear tuning fork is loudest in conductive #hearing loss.Dr. Vandana Bhide 1 day ago
- RT @SatyaKomatineni: Dream big. U will likely fail. At least the ride will not be dreadful and Boring. #whyworkDr. Vandana Bhide 1 day ago
- RT @srrezaie: High Yield Murmur Maneuvers: Ispiration inc rIght sided murmurs and Expiration inc lEft sided murmurs #ABIM #MedEdDr. Vandana Bhide 1 day ago
- Dr. St. Petery @FloridaAAP: Remember to use modifier 25 & visit code when billing #vaccine admin for non well child visit #pediatriciansDr. Vandana Bhide 2 days ago
- @AAPnews &@CDCgov host chat #TWYDoc Wed May 29 12-1 pm ET. #physicians & #patients discuss ways smoking #cessation @FloridaAAP #meded #HCSMDr. Vandana Bhide 2 days ago
- Am guilty of this:Don't assume all groin rashes are #fungal.15 Things #Dermatologists Think #Hospitalists Should Know ow.ly/lj6bYDr. Vandana Bhide 2 days ago
- Be Prepared — The #BostonMarathon and #MassCasualty Events — NEJM nej.md/12w2d5E #meded #HCSMDr. Vandana Bhide 2 days ago
- Under the Medical Tent at the #Boston #Marathon — NEJM nej.md/12w0Nbg #meded #HCSMDr. Vandana Bhide 2 days ago
- Wachter Sees Bright Future for Hospital Medicine :: Article - The Hospitalist the-hospitalist.org/details/articl… #mededDr. Vandana Bhide 4 days ago
- MT@mathena123: @ #DDW13 found that use of a smartphone app sig improved patients’ prep for #colonoscopy: ow.ly/lanZJ #epatientsDr. Vandana Bhide 6 days ago
- MT@whole_patients:Social Media Use in #meded: A Systematic Review : Academic Medicine pdfs.journals.lww.com/academicmedici… #hcsm #education #MayoClinicFLDr. Vandana Bhide 1 week ago
- MT @ryanmadanickmd: Baumgart #74: tablet computer based multimedia enhanced #meded improved performance on board exams vs standard educ...Dr. Vandana Bhide 1 week ago
- MT @jasonpratt: Just shared our new @SocialAtMayo video to my #MayoClinicFL public affairs team. They loved it! :) youtu.be/pjocDhlicJs...Dr. Vandana Bhide 1 week ago
- MT @srrezaie: New information that you can present and expect learners to retain is no more than 4 concepts/ideasDr. Vandana Bhide 1 week ago
- MT @srrezaie: Top 10 things ID Specialists wish every Hospitalist knew the-hospitalist.org/details/articl… #pediatricians #HCSMDr. Vandana Bhide 1 week ago
- "Social at Mayo Clinic" YouTube Video Educates Mayo Clinic Employees about Social Media Best Practices wp.me/pupWd-sRDr. Vandana Bhide 1 week ago
- MT @markraganceo: How #SocialAtMayo video educates @MayoClinic employees on #HCSM guidelines bit.ly/19Easix #HealthcareDr. Vandana Bhide 1 week ago
- MT @laurenvenoy:Join #MayoclinicFl #cardiology specialist Dr.Landolfo tomorrow at #GoRedforWomen2013 luncheon! http://t.co/9AGssqCenpDr. Vandana Bhide 1 week ago
Categories
Pages
%d bloggers like this:











