Vitamin D deficiency in young children. The realities of today

Abstract

The article presents a review of the literature on the clinical aspects of assessing vitamin D deficiency in young children by the concentration of 25(OH)D (hydroxycalciferol) in blood serum. The purpose of the review was to familiarize pediatric specialists with the real state of affairs in assessing the clinical significance of diagnosing vitamin D status, its relationship with the prevention of deficient rickets, ways of correcting and choosing the dose of calciferol. A daily dose of 400 IU of vitamin D for young children is effective and safe in preventing deficient rickets. Higher subsidized doses of calciferol have not been shown to be more effective. In addition, they can potentially lead to toxic levels of vitamin D metabolites in the blood. When using lower daily doses (less than 400 IU), an adequate prophylactic effect may not be achieved. Determination of the level of circulating serum hydroxycalciferol, which characterizes the status of vitamin D in the body, is not recommended for routine examination and as a standard for diagnosing deficient rickets in young children. Calciferol has multilateral effects, modulates not only phosphorus-calcium metabolism, but also affects other systems and functions of the body, in particular, ontogenesis and the immune system. According to foreign literature, all infants should receive vitamin D for the prevention of rickets, treatment from the age of one month. This is most reliably identified for children, probably at risk. Convincing data indicating a positive protective effect on diabetes mellitus D on unforeseen pathology, for example, the frequency of exclusion of pneumonia, infectious diarrhea, atopic dermatitis in infancy, has not yet been obtained.