More Than 90% Of Children Deficient In Vitamin D - Signs That Are Hard To See With The Eyes

Vitamin D is essential for healthy bone growth and preventing rickets, a condition that causes bones to become weak or deformed. However, children can be deficient in vitamin D and early signs of deficiency are often subtle and difficult to detect with the naked eye. According to Master, Doctor Pham Cong Luan – Head of Pediatrics – Neonatology Department said: More than 90% of pediatric general examination cases at American International Hospital (AIH) found vitamin D deficiency from mild to severe. at different ages. Not only infants, but older children aged 8-15 years are still at risk of potential vitamin D deficiency. 

Normally, children with mild vitamin D deficiency, outside the child still develop normally physically, the child’s height is still standard for age. However, when the disease is expressed through obvious signs, then the child is at risk of rickets, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, slow movement … is very high if not detected early. When determining a child’s vitamin D deficiency, parents should not supplement themselves by taking medicine, but need to take the child to a doctor to determine the level of deficiency, from which there are indications for appropriate and timely vitamin D supplementation time. 

► Importance of vitamin D  

 – Vitamin D plays a very important role in healthy skeletal development and prevention of rickets. Especially for children, vitamin D supplementation is essential. It plays an important role in bone structure through the mechanism of calcium and phosphorus distribution. At the same time, vitamin D increases the absorption of calcium and phosphorus through the digestive tract. In bones, vitamin D and parathyroid hormone stimulate calcium and phosphorus metabolism, increasing calcium deposition of bones. Therefore, an adequate amount of vitamin D in the body is essential for calcium and phosphorus to be attached to bone tissue. In addition, vitamin D is an important substance that helps regulate the homeostasis of calcium and phosphorus in the body. 

– Vitamin D helps children strengthen the immune system, preventing SARS-CoV-2. Vitamin D enhances the immune response through its anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties, in addition to having an essential function in activating the immune system’s protective barrier. Vitamin D is known for its role in enhancing the function of immune cells, including T cells and macrophages, which help the body fight off pathogens. Some recent studies also show the relationship and ability of vitamin D to support the immune system against SARS-CoV-2 in the body. Vitamin D deficiency is strongly associated with increased susceptibility to infections, diseases, and immune disorders. For example, low vitamin D levels increase the risk of respiratory diseases, including tuberculosis, bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as well as respiratory viral and bacterial infections.  

– Children with adequate vitamin D supplementation help reduce the number of asthma exacerbations. Vitamin D deficiency will increase the risk of asthma, affect lung function and make asthma worse in children. Children given enough vitamin D can improve asthma by blocking inflammatory proteins in the lungs and increasing the production of a protein that has anti-inflammatory effects. In contrast, when children are deficient in vitamin D, it is often more difficult to control asthma attacks. 

 ► Signs of vitamin D deficiency in children  

Vietnam is one of the countries with a very high rate of vitamin D deficiency with 62.1% of children in urban areas and 53.7% of children in rural areas. . Some early to late signs that a child is deficient in Vitamin D: 

Early signs: The appearance of signs of the nervous system such as frequent crying, restless sleep…; Children sweat a lot at night; Children with physical retardation, blue skin… Most of the early signs above are difficult to detect with the naked eye, which can be confused with signs of other diseases.  

Late signs: Many signs of bone changes in children after a few months of vitamin D deficiency, such as: Slow teething, slow crawling, slow walking; Deformed skull, soft skull… When children with rickets, their legs will be deformed and their physical development will be delayed, which can leave sequelae when the child is an adult. 

► Consequences of vitamin D deficiency in children  

    In children, vitamin D deficiency causes rickets, causing bones to become soft, weak, deformed and painful; affect lung function and make asthma worse. At the same time, lack of vitamin D, children are at risk of cardiovascular diseases, allergies, affecting oral health… At the American International Hospital (AIH), all newborns are supplemented. Vitamin D right from the first days after birth, helps children be stronger and stronger, prevents rickets and abnormalities caused by vitamin D deficiency. 

► How to prevent children from vitamin D deficiency parents need to know 

 – Vitamin D supplements for children through foods: eggs, milk, fish such as salmon, tuna, sardines, oysters, shrimp, cereals, fruit plants, mushrooms, etc. At the same time, maintain a reasonable and scientific diet, meeting the necessary nutritional groups for children.  

 – Let children participate in outdoor sports activities. This not only adds natural vitamin D, but also promotes children’s health through physical activity.Although vitamin D is very necessary for children, parents should not self-add Vitamin D to children without consulting and specifying a doctor. 

 – At the same time, children need to determine the specific level of deficiency, so that the appropriate amount of vitamin D can be determined, avoiding the situation of insufficient or excess vitamin D supplementation. should be done through the tests in the program of Periodic General Pediatric Health Checkup. 

Pediatrics, American International Clinic (AIH Clinic) provides comprehensive pediatric examination services, including: general health examination; vaccination; Monitor children’s physical and mental development; Nutrition consultation, diagnosis and treatment services. 
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