From bone growth to brain development, Vitamin D is a nutrient that plays a very important role in a child’s growth years. With sunlight being one of the most important and abundant sources of vitamin D, it is very important for your little one to go out and soak in some sun. With the emergence of pandemic and an ongoing series of lockdowns worldwide, children have been isolated and have been deprived from society for long. Where staying indoors for such a long time has taken a toll on children’s mental health, it has impacted their physical health and growth as well. Having adequate amounts of vitamin D in the body can help children in the process of their growth and will save them from various conditions and disorders caused due to the deficiency of the sunshine vitamin. Low Vitamin D levels can cause chronic headaches, easy fatigue. It can even lead to cardiovascular issues, reduced functioning of the heart.
If Vitamin D is less or if someone is Vitamin D deficient, it can lower the immune status and lead to poor diabetic control. Let us take a step ahead and learn all about vitamin D deficiency in children, it’s symptoms, causes, treatment and ways to prevent this condition with Dr. Monica Goel, Consultant Physician, P.D Hinduja Hospital & MRC, Mahim Mumbai.
Why is Vitamin D Important?
Where nutrition is very important in a child's growth years, maintaining a good balance of various vitamins and minerals is important for their overall growth and development. Vitamin D is one such important nutrient that helps in all round
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development of a child. From building strong bones to aiding brain development and from strengthening the immune system to preventing various diseases, vitamin D can do it all. This fat soluble vitamin helps in maintaining the levels of phosphorus and calcium in the blood. Where we have been taught to consume calcium rich food items such as milk in order to get strong and healthy bones, one must know that without adequate levels of vitamin D in the body the calcium tends to get wasted. Not just this but adequate levels of vitamin D in blood helps to strengthen the immune system and protects a person against respiratory and viral infections. Vitamin D is essential for our skin, hair, and nails. It is also vital for mental function.
Symptoms of Vitamin D deficiency in Children
Here are some of the most common symptoms of Vitamin deficiency in children-
- Dental deformities
- Muscle weakness
- Impaired growth
- Fatigue
- Changing mood
- Bone pain
- Delayed motor development
- Muscle cramps
- Short stature
- Bone fractures
Causes of Vitamin D deficiency in children
- Obesity
- Celiac disease
- Kidney disease
- Crohn's disease
- Sedentary lifestyle/ lack of physical activities
- Breast milk
- Liver disease
- Lighter skin colour
- Certain medications
Health Issues Caused Due To Vitamin D deficiency
Where the sunshine nutrient a.k.a vitamin D is known to help in the growth and development process of a child to help in regulating the proper body functioning, one must know that inadequate levels of this vitamin can lead to various health issues in children. Dr. Monica says, “Because it’s a neurohormone, it can lead to anxiety, panic attacks, mood swings and
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depression.Hence, this needs to be identified early before the problem becomes major. The treatment of the Vitamin D deficiency will depend on the condition of the neonate or the child and the levels of Vitamin D. Generally, children or neonates who have severe Vitamin D deficiency manifested as rickets or stunted growth are given about 1000 units of Vitamin D daily and for about 2-3 months and once the significant improvement or changes are seen clinically then the dose can be reduced to 400 units daily but that should be done in accordance with the treating pediatrician of the child.”
Vitamin D deficiency can cause metabolic bone disease, Osteopenia and osteoporosis in adults, Rickets in children, hence it is a must to supplement your kids' diet in such a way that the chances of Vitamin D deficiency are nil.
With inputs from Dr. Monica Goel, Consultant Physician, P.D Hinduja Hospital & MRC, Mahim Mumbai.