7 in 10 Kids in the U.S. Aren’t Getting Enough Vitamin D

August 7, 2009

Posted by Mina Shahriary

Kids You may have heard the alarming news — new research indicates that some 70% of young Americans have dangerously low levels of the “sunshine vitamin” in their bodies. This news may surprise many, but it’s not without precedent. Recent studies have suggested that 40-60% of the U.S. population is affected by the vitamin D deficiency epidemic.

What are the dangers of insufficient vitamin D? Diabetes, osteoporosis, heart disease and cancer, to name just a few of the chronic diseases that kids who lack vitamin D are prone to later in life. Low vitamin D levels have also been implicated in depression and learning difficulties, as well as weight gain and stunted growth in girls during puberty.

Researchers conducted an in-depth analysis of a nationally representative sample of more than 6,000 young people between the ages of 1 and 21. Their findings, published online Monday in the journal, Pediatrics, indicate that nearly 8 million children, teens and young adults have vitamin D levels so low that they are considered vitamin D deficient, while another 50+ million have higher levels which are still low enough to be considered insufficient. Most likely to be low on D are girls, teens, those who are overweight and those with darker skin. Older people are also very much at risk — vitamin D deficiency is nearing epidemic proportion among people over 50.

“At first, we couldn’t believe the numbers. I think it’s very worrisome,” said study author, Michal L. Melamed of the Albert Einstein College in New York. The researchers and other experts in the field think a combination of factors are to blame, but singled out lack of sun exposure as a primary cause. Kids today spend more time indoors watching TV, playing video games and using computers than they do playing outside. Even when they spend time outdoors, they’re often slathered with sunscreens, which negate the sun’s vitamin D benefits while blocking harmful UV rays.

The researchers also found an association between low vitamin D levels and increased risk for high blood pressure, high blood sugar, low calcium levels and low levels of HDL (“good”) cholesterol. This new evidence shows that inadequate vitamin D may be putting a generation already affected by the childhood obesity epidemic, at even greater risk for heart disease and diabetes, two of the biggest health threats facing Americans today.

So what can you do to safely increase vitamin D levels? Here are some recommendations:

Take a vitamin D3 supplement. The American Academy of Pediatrics currently recommends 400 IU of vitamin D3 daily starting at birth. Liquid vitamin D (ours provides 100 IU of vitamin D per drop) is a good option for infants, younger children and those who cannot swallow pills. Alternatively, vitamin D capsules can be opened and mixed into food. According to Peggy L. Manuel, MD, FAAP, 1,000 IU of vitamin D3 daily may be appropriate for children over the age of one. Higher doses may be beneficial for those 12 and older. Keep your doctor in the know about any supplements you or your child may be taking. (Click here to read Dr. Manuel’s more detailed recommendations for kids.)

Go outside! Encourage kids to spend playtime outdoors. They’ll benefit from both extra physical activity and the sun exposure you may not be getting enough of. It’s important to be aware, however, that sunlight alone will not provide sufficient vitamin D, especially in winter and in the Northern U.S. Unprotected sun exposure is not endorsed by most dermatologists, and it’s important to avoid overexposure to the sun, and sunburns, in particular.

Include vitamin D-rich foods in your diet. Foods naturally rich in vitamin D include fish, eggs and milk. Foods fortified with vitamin D, such as milk, soy milk and cereals, are also available. However, the form of vitamin D used to fortify foods is generally the less effective D2 form of the vitamin.

Stop Aging Now has long advocated higher vitamin D intakes than those that are currently recommended as part of the USRDA, and we hope that these new findings will finally get vitamin D the attention it deserves!