Vitamin D Deficiency Epidemic: Consequences for Health

Vitamin D deficiency is often equated with rickets. Since rickets is no longer seen by physicians, it is assumed that vitamin D deficiency was conquered with the fortification of milk with vitamin D. However, it has been reported that more than 50% of adults of over the age of 65, 42% of African American women aged 15-49, 52% of adolescent Hispanic and black children, and 48% of preadolescent white girls were vitamin D deficient. Pregnant women receiving a prenatal vitamin were also not only at high risk, but so were their infants. Seventy-six percent of mothers and 81% of infants at the time of birth were vitamin D deficient.

Not only does vitamin D deficiency prevent maximum bone growth and deposition of bone mineral in children, it will precipitate and exacerbate osteoporosis later in life and causes the painful bone disease osteomalacia. Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to increased risk of serious chronic diseases including type I diabetes, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, cardiovascular disease as well as many deadly cancers including the prostate, pancreas, colon, and esophagus.

Children and adults require 1,000 IU of vitamin D3/d if they are not exposed to sunlight. Diet cannot provide this amount, and, thus, sensible sun exposure and/or supplements are needed.

Measurement of 25-hydroxyvitamin D is the only way to determine a person's vitamin D status. All health care professionals should be alert to this epidemic and institute treatment and preventative measures.