subject: Recent Studies Suggest Vitamin D For Kids Could Minimize Poor Health Outcomes In Seriously Ill Child [print this page] Two recent studies have suggested that there is a strong link between poor outcomes inkids who are seriously ill and vitamin D deficiency. While supplementing diets with vitamin D for kids has been suggested in the past in order to reduce the incidence of childhood allergies and prevent certain diseases, it's now suggested that a deficiency can also have a dramatic effect on children who are already ill. Apparently critically ill young people who lack sufficient quantities of the vitamin may also be sicker for longer periods of time. They may also respond more poorly to certain treatment protocols.
Two Studies Focus On Deficiency And Severity Of Illnesses
The two studies, one directed by Dr. Kate Madden of Children's Hospital Boston and Harvard Medical School, both revealed a strong link between vitamin D deficiency when underage patients were admitted to the hospital and poor results after appropriate treatment for the illness commenced. Earlier studies have established the link in adults, but the new study results echo the link between poor response and deficiency in young people as well.
Studies Followed 800 Critically Ill Children
The first study followed 500 pediatric patients who had been admitted to hospitals with serious illnesses. They found that 40% of those admitted were vitamin D deficient. These boys and girls had more serious problems and responded poorly to treatment compared to kids who weren't deficient in the nutrient. A second study tracked 300 critically ill pediatric patients ranging from toddlers to teens at Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario. In that trial, nearly 70% of the patients didn't have a sufficient amount of vitamin D. These participants tended to stay longer in Intensive Care or Critical Care Units and suffer from more severe forms of their illnesses.
Deficiency On The Rise In Those Who Don't Take Vitamin D For Kids
According to researchers, the results are alarming because they indicate that far more children than expected aren't getting a sufficient amount of the nutrient despite foods that are enriched with vitamin D. Part of this may reflect the lack of exercise and time outdoors as well as the poor diets of the video game era. In response, the Institute of Medicine is now recommending that everyone under age 18 take supplements of vitamin D for kids in order to ensure they get between 400 and 600 IU (international units) daily.
The recent reports do come with a caveat. Pediatrics professor Steven Abrams cautions that the link between the deficiency and poorer outcomes for critically ill, minor patients may be the result of other, extraneous problems such as poor nutrition in general. He did, however, stress that the results of the recent studies reinforces the importance of proper supplementation for overall health. While some children will get enough from foods such as fortified bread and milk as well as yogurt, eggs and fish, picky eaters or those who don't spend much time outside should take about 400 IUs daily.
