Teens Need More Vitamin D
3/1/2009
Vitamin D insufficiency is a prevalent problem among adolescents. Researchers in the Boston area found that of 307 otherwise healthy adolescents, 42% had insufficient vitamin D status, and 24% were deficient (25OHD level less than 20 ng/ml). African American teenagers had the highest incidence of vitamin D deficiency (36%). Three additional studies and surveys in other areas have also documented that vitamin D insufficiency is a common problem among adolescents, particularly for residents in the northern regions of the United States.
Gordon CM and others. "Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among healthy adolescents." Arch Pediat Adolesc Med., 2004;158:531-537.