Vitamin D Guidelines Too Low for Cystic Fib... ( Study says deficiency persists even a...)

Vitamin D Guidelines Too Low for Cystic Fibrosis Kids

Date:10/13/2008

Study says deficiency persists even after weekly doses up to 3 times recommended amount

MONDAY, Oct. 13 (HealthDay News) -- Existing guidelines for treating vitamin D deficiency in children with cystic fibrosis are too low and put patients at high risk for bone loss and rickets, a new study says.

Researchers from Johns Hopkins Children's Center looked at 262 children with cystic fibrosis (CF). Nearly half the children were vitamin D-deficient, and most of them remained persistently deficient, despite receiving restorative vitamin D doses equal to or higher than the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation-recommended 50,000 IU of ergocalciferol (a form of vitamin D) per week.

The study was published in the October issue of The Journal of Pediatrics.

CF is a genetic disorder in which the body is unable to transport chloride in and out of cells. This causes mild to life-threatening complications such as recurrent and severe lung infections and delayed growth. Because CF results in poor absorption of nutrients and malnutrition, growing children with CF are especially prone to vitamin D deficiency, according to background information in a Hopkins news release.

"These findings are a big wake-up call, not only because they show that many children with CF are lacking vitamin D, but also because the deficiency persists even in those children who are treated with weekly doses twice or three times as high as the current recommendations," study leader and lung specialist Dr. Deanna Green said in the news release.

"Clearly there is an urgent need to find more effective ways to restore healthy vitamin D levels," she added.

Until that happens, doctors should consider increasing vitamin D intake beyond the current recommendations in CF patients who are vitamin D deficient, Green and colleagues suggested. Doctors should also check vitamin D levels at least once a year in all CF patients and more frequently
'/>"/>

0

GOOD

Page: 1 2
Related medicine news :

1. Children with cystic fibrosis not well covered by guidelines for vitamin D needs
2. Oral vitamin D may help prevent some skin infections
3. Vitamin D Added to FDA Osteoporosis Risk-Reduction Health Claim
4. A Piece Of Mind: Vitamin B12 May Protect the Brain in Old Age
5. E-mergency? Majority of U.S. Consumers Lack Essential Vitamin E
6. Stress-Related and Emotional Eating Can Be Curbed With the Vitamin Code(TM) Perfect Weight Formula
7. Get Your Daily Dose of Vitamin F: Natures Remedy for Emotional Energy
8. Vitamin B12 Key to Aging Brain
9. Genetic variants associated with vitamin B12
10. Vitamin B, Folate Supplements Wont Help Heart
11. New Vitamin Targets Needs of Nurses

Post Your Comments:

Vitamin D Guidelines Too Low for Cystic Fib...( Study says deficiency persists even a...),Health