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Article: The Vitamin D Epidemic and its Health Consequences1-4
- Article from:
- The Journal of Nutrition
- Article date:
- November 1, 2005
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright American Institute of Nutrition Nov 2005. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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ABSTRACT
Vitamin D deficiency is now recognized as an epidemic in the United States. The major source of vitamin D for both children and adults is from sensible sun exposure. In the absence of sun exposure 1000 IU of cholecalciferol is required daily for both children and adults. Vitamin D deficiency causes poor mineralization of the collagen matrix in young children's bones leading to growth retardation and bone deformities known as rickets. In adults, vitamin D deficiency induces secondary hyperparathyroidism, which causes a loss of matrix and minerals, thus increasing the risk of osteoporosis and fractures. In addition, the poor mineralization of newly laid down bone matrix in adult bone ...