Vitamin D and “His” Calcium

A study published in the journal Pediatrics reveals that only one in five children in 1-11 years, receives the amount of vitamin D it needs.

In recent decades, was treated on numerous occasions in health journals, adults, the osteogenic, osteoporosis, prevention and treatment of these diseases. The most recent studies on vitamin D and calcium metabolism are now published in journals of paediatrics as information on long-term effects of vitamin D continues to evolve.

The combination of low levels of calcium and vitamin D has long been considered a cause of rickets, long considered a disease of bone, until recent studies show that there are still children who begin to suffer rickets despite a good diet.

An article in the journal Pediatrics says that the strongest evidence on the effects of a vitamin D deficiency were related to risk of developing rickets.

Subsequent evaluations have found that can prevent rickets and treat this disease by increasing the daily amount of vitamin D consumed by the child. Other recommendations were also made and stipulate that all children should absorb 400 units of vitamin D daily. It was previously believed that half of this amount was sufficient. Your child getting enough vitamin D?

The study published in the journal Pediatrics reveals that only one in five children in 1-11 years, receives the amount of vitamin D it needs. Among African-Americans and among Latin Americans, 80 to 90% of children are deficient in vitamin D. Vitamin D is not only important for bone metabolism and health, but other studies suggest it could to play a role in the prevention of infectious diseases, diabetes and even certain forms of cancer.

Some other pediatric studies have shown that adolescents with low vitamin D levels also had lower blood pressure and cholesterol and higher were also more likely to be overweight.

And calcium?

What connection does this all have with our lives every day? As they grow older, children stop taking the formula, then the amount of milk they drink is likely to decrease. Their consumption of calcium and vitamin D becomes insufficient.

Many children do not like milk, so we give them other things to drink – water, juice or even soda. Although many parents believe their child gets all the calcium and vitamin it needs in other dairy products (yogurt, cheese, fortified juices), it is difficult to do without drinking milk every day. Even with two glasses of milk per day would require that young people also consume other dairy products.

The sunshine vitamin

Our body also produces vitamin D when exposed to sunlight. But because of the recommendations to use sun protection for children and adults alike, our exposure to sunlight can be enough to make all the vitamin D we need.

It is also recognized that children with dark skin, especially in northern latitudes, are more likely to experience deficiencies in vitamin D. Finally, today’s children do not play out as often or as long as previous generations. Besides contributing to obesity, inactivity that resulted in their vitamin D levels are lower.

While the data continues to accumulate and that additional studies are per determine acceptable levels of vitamin D as a function of age, one thing is certain: drink milk and consume dairy products daily is essential to growing children, and this for many reasons. It is much easier to pour a glass of milk to children than to hound them to take vitamin tablets.