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Vitamin D is important for skeletal growth and bone health in children and adolescents; however, low vitamin D levels in children are prevalent worldwide. The Endocrine Society has updated its 2011 practice guideline on vitamin D supplementation; we have covered the recommendations for adults separately (NEJM JW Gen Med Sep 1 2024). This summary covers the portion of the guideline relevant to children and adolescents.
The Endocrine Society now recommends that all children and adolescents (age range, 1–18 years) receive empirical vitamin D supplementation for the following reasons:
To prevent nutritional rickets (600 IU daily)
To potentially lower risk for respiratory tract infections (300–2000 IU daily, based on the clinical trials reviewed by…