Vitamin D deficiency in children

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Vitamin D is a vital metabolically active compound that is either synthesised by the body using UVB light or absorbed via the digestive system from certain foods. The role of vitamin D is to facilitate calcium absorption from the gut and maintain calcium homeostasis. Deficiency of vitamin D is implicated in a great number of orthopaedic conditions, including SUFE, Perthes, osteomalacia and fragility fractures.

For babies up to one year of age the recommended daily allowance (RDA) is 400 IU (10µg). For children and adults aged 1-40 years the RDA is 600 IU (15µg).

Vitamin D deficiency is very common in the UK due to diet, lifestyle, weather and our northern latitude. It is estimated that 16% of children in the UK will be deficient in vitamin D leading to myriad signs and symptoms.

Typical presentations include:

  • Pain: especially lower limb long bone pain that might wake the child up from sleep at night
  • Deformity: genu valgum, genu varum or growth retardation
  • Development: delay in walking
  • Muscle: aches and pains or weakness
  • Calcium imbalance: tetany, cardiomyopathy, seizures

 

Sunshine requirements

UVB is required to synthesise vitamin B. This is unfortunately blocked by glass or sun cream thicker than factor 8. However, most people fail to apply sun cream effectively and only 5-30 minutes of direct sun exposure, twice a week, is required for vitamin D synthesis

 

Food high in vitamin D

Less than 10% of vitamin D is acquired from diet, but foods high in vitamin D include:

  • Tuna (85g = 154IU)
  • Liver or beef (85g = 42 IU)
  • 1 large egg (41 IU, from Yolk)
  • Fortified breakfast cereal (330g = 40 IU)

 

Vitamin D treatment

The reference range for vitamin D has changed recently to be in line with international guidelines. The local recommendation is for children to have a serum vitamin D of more than 50nmoll-1. If the vitamin D level is found to be less than this then the treatment regime is to give high dose vitamin D for six to eight weeks followed by maintenance supplementation as shown below:

  • Normal: >50nmoll-1
  • Insufficiency: 30-50 nmoll-1
  • Deficiency: <30nmoll-1

 

Nottingham Children’s Hospital vitamin D treatment protocol (Cholcalciferol (D3) or Ergocalciferol (D2))

  • Age <1 month - initial treatment 1500 IU daily
  • Age 1-6 months - initial treatment 3000 IU daily
  • Age 6 months - 12 years - initial treatment 6000 IU daily
  • Age >12 years - initial treatment 10,000 IU daily

Initial treatment should last for six to eight weeks and be followed by maintenance of 400 IU daily.

We ask that you check the vitamin D level in any child with unusual limb or back pains without an obvious deformity. We would request that any level less than 50nmoll is treated as per this protocol and rechecked. If the symptoms still persist then please re-refer. If there is an obvious significant deformity then the level should be checked but should not delay referral.

 

References