Promoting vitamin D uptake in infants and children

Despite it being thought of as a disease of the past, children in the UK, particularly those from high-risk groups, are at risk of rickets. The latest National Diet and Nutrition Survey estimated that 7.5% of 1½–3-year-olds were deficient in vitamin D ( Bates et al, 2014 ). Vitamin D deficiency presents with skeletal and non-skeletal manifestations. With the sun being the main source of vitamin D, there is a reliance on supplementation across most of the UK. This article looks at manifestations of vitamin D deficiency, the identification of at-risk groups and recommendations for supplementation.