October - 26 - 2009
At least one out of every five U.S. children from ages one to 11 years are not getting enough vitamin D, putting them at risk of serious diseases, such as diabetes, as well as weak bones and infections. This analysis, published online in the journal Pediatrics, used data from a 2001-2006 government health survey of about 3,000 children who had undergone blood tests to measure vitamin D levels. Some estimates also indicate that almost 90 percent of African-American children and 80 percent of Hispanic children may be vitamin D deficient. About 6.4 million children have vitamin D blood levels that are too low, the analysis said, using the American Academy of Pediatrics' measurement of healthy vitamin D levels.