Vitamin D Deficiency

Short Description
vitamin D deficiency remains common in children and adults. … review I consider the nature of vitamin D deficiency, discuss its role in skeletal and …

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Content
review article
T h e new engl and journa l o f medicine
n engl j med 357;3 www.nejm.266 org july 19, 2007
Medical Progress
Vitamin D Deficiency
Michael F. Holick, M.D., Ph.D.
From the Department of Medicine, Section
of Endocrinology, Nutrition, and Diabetes,
the Vitamin D, Skin, and Bone
Research Laboratory, Boston University
Medical Center, Boston. Address reprint
requests to Dr. Holick at Boston University
School of Medicine, 715 Albany St., M-1013,
Boston, MA 02118, or at mfholick@bu.edu.
N Engl J Med 2007;357:266-81.
Copyright . 2007 Massachusetts Medical Society.
Once foods were fortified with vitamin d and rickets appeared
to have been conquered, many health care professionals thought the major
health problems resulting from vitamin D deficiency had been resolved. However,
rickets can be considered the tip of the vitamin D-deficiency iceberg. In fact,
vitamin D deficiency remains common in children and adults. In utero and during
childhood, vitamin D deficiency can cause growth retardation and skeletal deformities
and may increase the risk of hip fracture later in life. Vitamin D deficiency in adults
can precipitate or exacerbate osteopenia and osteoporosis, cause osteomalacia and
muscle weakness,…