BONE HEALTH

Adolescents Fall Short on Vitamin D
(06/2004)

A study published in the June issue of the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine studied 307 adolescents to determine vitamin D levels. The results revealed that 24 percent of the adolescents in the study fell short on vitamin D. The problem was equally common among girls and boys and even more prevalent among African American teens. Milk is one of the best dietary sources of vitamin D. From early childhood to late adolescence, milk intake decreases while soft drink intake more than triples. If undetected and untreated, vitamin D deficiency could put them at risk for stunted growth and fractures. Chronic deficiency of vitamin D also may contribute to rickets in children and could lead to osteoporosis later in life.