Why is Vitamin D Important?
Vitamin D has numerous benefits for both children and adults. The benefits of vitamin d are associated with stronger bones, strengthened immune systems, lower risk for premature birth, and possible disease prevention.
Stronger Bones:
Calcium is generally most important thing when it comes to your kid's bone health, but you should think about something else - Vitamin D. Body can only absorb the bone-strengthening mineral when there's vitamin D present. Kids build bone throughout their childhood and adolescence, so getting enough of both calcium and D is critical during that time. In rare cases, kids can fall so short in vitamin D that they develop a condition called rickets, when bones become weak and soft and their legs appear bowed.
Lowered Risk of Premature Birth:
The benefits of Vitamin D extend to pregnant women. Research shows the risk of premature birth decreases by 60 percent when vitamin D in blood levels are of 40 ng/ml or higher.
Strengthened Immune System:
Vitamin D also plays a vital role in the
immune system. Data shows that benefits of vitamin D in blood serum levels of 50 nanograms per
milliliter (ng/ml) appears to protect against viral respiratory infection—which
is especially important in light of COVID-19.
How Much Vitamin D Should Children Get?
The daily requirements equates to 400
International Units (IU) per day of vitamin D for infants under 12 months, and
600 IU per day for older children and adolescents. To use another measurement,
"most experts and scientists agree that a blood level of 40-60 ng/ml is
the ideal range for vitamin D that can help reduce disease by up to 50 percent
or more.
Babies who are fully or partially breastfed
should get 400 IU from vitamin D supplements (in the form of drops) until
they're fully weaned and drinking milk that's fortified with D. Breast milk
does not contain sufficient vitamin D to meet babies' needs.
What Are the Best Sources of Vitamin D?
Unfortunately, few foods are naturally rich
in vitamin D. Fortified foods like milk, yogurt, cereal, and orange juice may
seem like a more manageable way to help your child get his daily D.
Best way for a person to get benefits of Vitamin D is
by exposure to sunlight.
How to test for vitamin D deficiency?
Generally deficiency of vitamin D found in sports person that's why they got fainted and get sports injuries due to lack of vitamin D. Best way to test for vitamin D deficiency
is by a simple blood test which is readily available at all the labs. Ideally
it should be done annually.
What are the clinical manifestations of vitamin D deficiency?
Vitamin D deficiency manifests as Rickets
in children and Osteomalacia in adults. To avoid these causes you should visit orthopedic doctor in mohali