The Role of Vitamin D in Bone Growth and Health in Children: A Narrative Review

Background: Child growth and development are multifactorial processes influenced by genetic, hormonal, nutritional, physical activity, health and environmental factors. Vitamin D is an important micronutrient involved in calcium and phosphate homeostasis and bone mineralization. Severe vitamin D deficiency may cause nutritional rickets and impaired skeletal growth; however, evidence regarding vitamin D and linear growth remains inconsistent. Objective: To review the role of vitamin D in child growth and bone health based on current evidence. Methods: A narrative review was conducted by searching PubMed and relevant official and clinical guideline sources. Systematic reviews, meta-analyses, randomized controlled trials, clinical practice guidelines and relevant research articles concerning vitamin D, child growth, bone health, bone mineral density and nutritional rickets were prioritized with emphasis on publications from 2021-2026. Results: Vitamin D contributes to calcium and phosphate homeostasis required for normal bone mineralization. Severe deficiency can lead to nutritional rickets, whereas evidence for supplementation effects on linear growth in children is inconsistent. Supplementation increases serum 25-hidroxyvitamin D but does not consistently increase height. For bone health, associations between vitamin D status and bone mineral density are reported in some studies, while supplementation affects on bone mass are generally small and inconsistent. Hypovitaminosis D remains prevalent among Indonesian children and adolescent. Conclusion: Vitamin D is an important to reduce the risk of nutritional rickets, but current evidence does not support vitamin D supplementation solely to increase height in children without deficiency.