Elizabeth Szalay, MD, Professor of Pediatric Surgery, University of New Mexico, discusses the epidemic of vitamin D deficiency in children in the USA. Only 16% of children in New Mexico were recently shown to have adequate levels of vitamin D, indicating the need for vitamin D supplementation

Summary There is an epidemic of vitamin D deficiency in healthy children the USA, and supplementation at a starting dose of 400IU is recommended for every healthy child. Reasons for vitamin D deficiency include the use of sunscreen, obesity and a lack of time spent outdoors. References and resources Marcason W. Vitamin D: are children and adolescents at risk for deficiency? J Am Diet Assoc. 2009 May;109(5):952. No abstract available.

Dr. Szalay has disclosed the following:
Contracted Research: Wyeth

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