At least one in five American children between age 1 to 11 don't get enough vitamin D and could be at risk for a range of health problems, including weak bones, according to the latest analysis.
Another troubling finding: Almost 90 percent of black children in that age group and 80 percent of Hispanic kids could be vitamin D-deficient. Dr. Jonathan Mansbach, lead author of the new analysis and a researcher at Harvard Medical School and Children's Hospital in Boston, calls those "astounding numbers" that should serve as a call to action.
The findings add to mounting evidence about vitamin D deficiency in children, teens and adults. Recent studies have suggested that vitamin D might help prevent serious diseases, including infections, diabetes and even some cancers. Past studies have shown that kids who suffer from vitamin D deficiency also are more likely to high blood pressure, high cholesterol and be overweight.
The new analysis, released online Monday by the journal Pediatrics, is the first assessment of varying vitamin D levels in children aged 1 through 11.
