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Child Nutrition (Expert Forum)
Vitamin D Malabsorption
Answered by
Renee Radenberg - Child Nutrition, nutrition
This forum is for questions and support regarding child nutrition issues such as: Acne and food, Allergies and food, Balanced Menus, Diabetes, Finicky Eaters, Healthy Snacks, Nutrition, Weight Loss.
To help the Registered Dietitian evaluate your child's nutritional status, please state your child's weight (in kg or lbs.), height, and age in the content of your question.
To help the Registered Dietitian evaluate your child's nutritional status, please state your child's weight (in kg or lbs.), height, and age in the content of your question.
Vitamin D Malabsorption
by Trialanderror, Sep 05, 2007 02:09PM
I am so glad this forum has been born. Right away I have a tricky question that may not be easy to answer. Maybe you can help.
In my family, throughout three generations on my father`s side, there have been six cases of rickets, a general tendency for soft tooth enamel and brittle bones in childhood and some heart attacks despite very healthy lifestyles. I too had rickets in childhood and all symptoms except the heart attack.
I have a five-year-old son who seems to have some weakness in bones and teeth as well with one "green-stick-fracture" at age 2 and a sudden bout of cavities at age 3.5 despite average efforts to avoid these. Very unfortunately I had not known that I should have given him vitamin D supplements during infancy. Only after the damage was done, I did some family research and found out about our genetic history. Even though not medically confirmed, we believe there is heredetary vitamin D and calcium malabsorption in play. My ancestors are Czech and Norwegian where some of those heredetary problems seem to occur more often.
Sorry this is so long. My question is how can I further improve my son`s chances to get strong bones and teeth? I have started giving him the vitamin D drops that infants are supposed to take about a year and a half ago and have him eat dairy products whenever possible. Also, he is definetly getting enough sun exposure since infancy. Should he get higher than infant doses of vitamin D? We do not have a pediatrician to answer all these questions so I wonder if you would have any advice. Thank you so much in advance.
In my family, throughout three generations on my father`s side, there have been six cases of rickets, a general tendency for soft tooth enamel and brittle bones in childhood and some heart attacks despite very healthy lifestyles. I too had rickets in childhood and all symptoms except the heart attack.
I have a five-year-old son who seems to have some weakness in bones and teeth as well with one "green-stick-fracture" at age 2 and a sudden bout of cavities at age 3.5 despite average efforts to avoid these. Very unfortunately I had not known that I should have given him vitamin D supplements during infancy. Only after the damage was done, I did some family research and found out about our genetic history. Even though not medically confirmed, we believe there is heredetary vitamin D and calcium malabsorption in play. My ancestors are Czech and Norwegian where some of those heredetary problems seem to occur more often.
Sorry this is so long. My question is how can I further improve my son`s chances to get strong bones and teeth? I have started giving him the vitamin D drops that infants are supposed to take about a year and a half ago and have him eat dairy products whenever possible. Also, he is definetly getting enough sun exposure since infancy. Should he get higher than infant doses of vitamin D? We do not have a pediatrician to answer all these questions so I wonder if you would have any advice. Thank you so much in advance.
Doctor's Answer
by Renee Radenberg, Sep 05, 2007 08:02PM
, Sep 05, 2007 08:02PMTo: Trial and error
Vitamin D promotes the absorption of Calcium and Phosphorus into our bones and teeth. All three are very much interrelated in our body. Research has indicated harmful and, possible toxic, effects from excess amounts of Vitamin D (usually from supplements). The harmful effects can be very similar to deficiencies of the Vitamin: weak muscles, weak bones, excessive bleeding, and kidney stones. It is recommended not to exceed 400 IU per day of Vitamin D for young children (due to growing bones) and 200 IU per day for over 25 years old.
I suggest you get blood levels on Vitamin D, Calcium, and Phosphorus so your MD can properly treat your son’s condition.
Thank you for visiting the forum and asking your question.
I suggest you get blood levels on Vitamin D, Calcium, and Phosphorus so your MD can properly treat your son’s condition.
Thank you for visiting the forum and asking your question.
Member Comments (2)
by Trialanderror, Sep 05, 2007 09:48PM
Thank you for the speedy reply. A blood test seems simple enough to get some clarity. Thanks again!
