Parents Vitamin D definciency

[TeamGram]

Wondering if anyone else has had this problem? My DGD, 9 yr old level 4, was having some pain in her left foot and ankle. Her coach suggested she go to an ortho specialist. They took xray and said take Aleve and do ice baths twice a day and come back in 3 weeks. Xrays didn't show anything so the doctor ordered blood work done. It showed a severe vitamin D definciency and she has been put on medication. We have a followup appointment next week so we will learn more then.

Thank you to her coach for insisting that she be seen by a doctor and also to the doctor for not just saying, I don't see anything wrong with her bones so just continue with the Aleve. DGD is one of those that says her foot hurts but hey I need to get back to practice. Doctor told her to not practice for three weeks. She had a competition at the end of two weeks and after she gave him puppy dog eyes and pleaded with him, he allowed her to compete. She came in 5th overall, so not bad since she hadn't practice other than upperbody exercises.

Just wondering if this definciency is common.

 

[bogwoppit]

I think it used to be very common, that is what rickets were caused by. Here in Canada they advise breast feeding mothers to give their babies Vit d supplements as there is little in breast milk. Formula has it in it. Fifteen minutes a day of sunshine is usually enough to take care of the issue, but depending where you live it may not be possible. Supplements are easily found.

 

[Faith]

I think it used to be very common, that is what rickets were caused by. Here in Canada they advise breast feeding mothers to give their babies Vit d supplements as there is little in breast milk. Formula has it in it. Fifteen minutes a day of sunshine is usually enough to take care of the issue, but depending where you live it may not be possible. Supplements are easily found.

It's getting more common. These days we have an indoor lifestyle, and when we do go out it's slathered in sun block (even a low SPF can stop vit D synthesis).

I do worry about it with my DD- she's very pale skinned, so if it's sunny she needs sunblock or she'd burn in seconds. Add that to the fact most of her life is spent indoors at school or the gym...

Vit D is actually found in few foods- mushrooms, alfalfa, fatty fish, liver, egg. I don't think my DD eats anything on that list, other than egg in cakes etc! Over here many foods like cereal, bread are fortified with vitamins, so we at least have something like that for breakfast.

So I get her supplements down her when i remember- a kids ACD (and iron if i can find it), and a fish oil supplement. I try to get her outdoors whenever possible, it's actually easier in winter when we don't use sunscreen.

 

[TeamGram]

We asked if we could just give supplements and he said it was a severe deficiency. She has had problems with her digestive system and apparantely vitamin D has not been absorbed when she eats. Luckily she is still able to compete. Her championships are this weekend so we are hoping for a strong finish to the end of her season.

 

[bogwoppit]

Did he offer any solution to a severe deficiency? It is hard to get sufficient vit d through diet alone for regular people and she cannot sit in the sun for 5 hours a day!

 

[TeamGram]

We have an appointment with the doctor next week so we'll learn more then. I had not heard of this problem much (like you said it used to be a problem). Just glad it was found out now before any bone deformaty happened. She is supposed to take prescription medication for at least the next 3 months.

 

[mylittlemiss]

I have a daughter who's had trouble with very low Vit D. Please listen to the advice the doctor gives for taking the vitamin D. My DD took a prescription mega dose once a week, plus twice daily Vit D pills. She's gets her levels checked now and then to be sure she's on track. Once her levels looked better, she stopped the mega dose and just takes the daily pills. Two summers ago she had a heel stress fracture, from doing nothing! It took a while to figure it out, but so glad we did! She's had other joint and bone issues, which come to find out she also has a gluten intolerance. We live in an area that doesn't have many days of sunshine, so I make sure my current younger daughter gymnast takes a daily Vit D supplement.

 

[BlairBob]

Thing is most foods don't really have A LOT of VitaminD per serving. Milk is fortified with 100iu per serving. Btw you need fat to process VitD. So 1/2/4% milk is better than non in this regard.

Vitamin D and Your Bones

It seems they can keep bumping daily recommended VitD all the time. 400 iu used to be the bare minimum to protect against rickets and such.

15 minutes of sun provides a lot of VitD iu provides between 10-20000 iu of VitD. This will vary on skin pigmentation, clouds, pollution, etc.

How do I get the vitamin D my body needs? | Vitamin D Council

Vitamin D — Health Professional Fact Sheet

 

[emorymom]

I think it is more common than diagnosed. And in my opinion (I'm not a doctor) any child who is diagnosed with any deficiency OR is short or has a growth slowdown should be have a blood test for celiac, which is WAAAY more common than is diagnosed.

You may also want to add K. I use a fairly high dose K with my kids -- it used to be naturally occuring in dairy, but since cows don't always feed on green grass anymore, it's often lacking and if the child's gut flora do not manufacture it, the D and Calcium can't work together.

Whenever I hear that a child has had three fractures in a year, for example (and I heard this IRL last week) I wonder if the D is high enough or if their K is absent. All children need D supplementation in the indoor months, and many will need it in the summer either because they use sunscreen or are inside during the sunny times of the day.

K also helps heal fractures faster. Though I have no experience with this because my kids, who fall off stuff all day long, have never had one. Coincidence? Maybe.

I use this one Nature's Life Vitamin K-2 Menatetrenone -- 5000 mcg - 60 Tablets - Vitacost

 

[HappyMom]

My DD developed a rare sun allergy at the end of last summer (at the age if 5 1/2). It wasn't too bad during the winter when the sun's rays were weak, but since the beginning of March (when she had a really horrible reaction), we have to make sure she has sunscreen (that contains high levels of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide) on if she goes out in the sun for even the shortest amount of time. There is actually a medical plan in place at her school for the nurse to put on sunscreen before recess or any sun exposure. It's sad when your 6 year old has to view the sun as her "enemy". This is our first spring and will be our first summer with this allergy - so we're learning as we go...but it's hard.

All that to say, I'm very concerned about her vitamin D levels. I haven't really discussed it with her pediatrician (not sure why), but I know I will be soon. I want to be proactive, especially since this looks to be a long term problem (according to the specialist who diagnosed her).

Right now, I buy eggland's best eggs (added vit D) for her scrambled eggs, vit D enhanced OJ, milk, she loves salmon, yogurt, spinach, we give her a vit. D supplement, multivitamin, etc. I'd love to hear what other foods you guys suggest!

For whatever reason, her legs don't react in the sun (but EVERYTHING else does - face, ears, neck, shoulders, arms, torso, etc). I'm hoping that her unprotected legs will help produce vitamin D.

Wow...I kind of went off topic. I just wanted to suggest some vitamin D foods and to encourage your DD to get just 10 minutes a day of unprotected sun exposure...that will help. Of course, listen to your doctor - add in meds, supplements, or whatever is suggested.

Good luck and hope it resolves quickly!!

 

[BlairBob]

Unprotected legs should be able to make VitD.

I recently bought some VitK. While gut bacteria do make quite a bit, sometimes I don't eat enough romaine, cabbage, or spinach.

 

[jago]

For what it's worth ... I live in Southern California so I'm outdoors daily and drive with the sun coming strongly through the windows. But I was tested by the allergist (blood test) maybe 6 months ago and came up pretty deficient in Vit D. I started taking supplements daily. Allergist said he has many patients deficient in Vit D and that is common, even around here. Go figure!


jago

 

[BlairBob]

Hmm, even in Socal?! (I'm originally from Socal).

 

[jago]

Weird isn't it?? Maybe there is an unseen layer of pollution interfering with things???


jago

 

[BlairBob]

Actually cloud cover and pollution can affect the amount of sunlight.

If ya think about working a 9 to 5, you basically miss most of the sunlight during the day.

 

[Faith]

For what it's worth ... I live in Southern California so I'm outdoors daily and drive with the sun coming strongly through the windows.


jago 

windows will block the uv wavelength necessary for vit d synthesis. So will sunblock/sunscreen. So if you wear sunscreen outdoors and drive with your windows closed you aren't actually exposed to the sun enough to make vit d. Which is why vit d deficiency is getting common in sunny climates, probably more so than moderate ones where there's no aircon and little need for sunscreen.

sunscreen is a delicate balance between the risk of skin malignancy and vit d deficiency. I'm still not sure how to manage that one...

 

[TeamGram]

DGD had a follow up visit with the orthopedic doctor. Because her auto immune system was off also he is concerned about rheumatoid arthritis which runs in the family. She has an MRI scheduled for next week and will go from there. Her competitive season is over for now so she can back off on practice for a bit and do more conditioning. Certainly hope she can shake all of this, not just for gymnastics but for her own well being. She has had two doses of the vitamin D supplement and he felt that there should have been more improvement in the level of pain in her foot and ankle.

 

[motigymnasticsmom]

Lupus?

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[bogwoppit]

DGD had a follow up visit with the orthopedic doctor. Because her auto immune system was off also he is concerned about rheumatoid arthritis which runs in the family. She has an MRI scheduled for next week and will go from there. Her competitive season is over for now so she can back off on practice for a bit and do more conditioning. Certainly hope she can shake all of this, not just for gymnastics but for her own well being. She has had two doses of the vitamin D supplement and he felt that there should have been more improvement in the level of pain in her foot and ankle.

hmm, glad they are getting on this quickly. Let us know how it goes.

 

[TeamGram]

Sooo had follow up visit after the MRI. It showed No fractures so that is good but it did show swelling in the joint between ankle and foot. ( sorry don't know correct terms). She is now wearing a boot for the next 5 weeks. The doctor wants her to see a rheumatoid arthritis specialist and is concerned this may be the problem. He talked to her about how she may have to find another activity besides gymnastics. This of course has made her very sad so she said she will do whatever it takes to not have to quit gymnastics. We will see.