eileen

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6225450.stm

Children are being put at risk of rickets because policies on vitamin D supplements are not been adhered to, experts have warned.

Doctors in Dundee write in the British Medical Journal that they recently diagnosed five infants with rickets - which can stop bones forming properly.
The government recommends that pregnant women should use vitamin D supplements.
Babies from Asian, African, Afro-Caribbean or Middle Eastern backgrounds are particularly at risk.
The paediatricians at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee said none of the mothers of the five children they had recently diagnosed had received vitamin D supplements.
We're failing ethnic groups by not reinforcing the public health message


Dr Scott Williamson


They warned parents were unaware of the risk because it was rarely mentioned by GPs or health visitors.
Government recommendations state that pregnant and breastfeeding mothers should take vitamin D supplements.
They are also recommended for infants in high-risk groups.
The main source of vitamin D is through ultra-violet radiation in sunlight, although it can also be found in certain foods.
It is crucial for the absorption of calcium, which is key in the formation of healthy bones. Deficiencies can lead to rickets, poor tooth formation, stunted growth and general ill health.
People with darker skin are at greater risk of vitamin D deficiencies because increased pigmentation reduces the capacity of the skin to manufacture the vitamin from sunlight.
'Ignorance'
Dr Scott Williamson, specialist registrar at Ninewells hospital, said there was a lack of awareness in primary care.
"If you try to find official government advice, it's not that easy to find," he said.
"It may be the government needs to better disseminate the guidance.
"There does seem to be a bit of ignorance - for instance people don't realise you're more at risk of getting rickets if you're breastfed.
"Also we're failing ethnic groups by not reinforcing the public health message."
Vitamins are provided for free under the Healthy Start initiative, which is aimed at low income families on Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance or Child Tax Credits.
They are also provided free to pregnant women under the age of 18 years but Dr Willamson said GPs should be prescribing the vitamins (which can also be bought from the chemist) for all pregnant women.
Dr Tony Williams, consultant in neonatal paediatrics at St George's Hospital in London, said that when rickets occurred in babies, it was a sign that the mother was deficient in vitamin D during the last few months of pregnancy.
"The policy for many years has been that women should receive vitamin D supplements during pregnancy but hardly any do," he said. But he said antenatal guidance from the government's drugs watchdog NICE had concluded that it was not necessary and this had added to the confusion.

eileen

is sunlight really the main source? ....... really can you calculate just how much you are getting if you are in arizona one day and toronto the next? could it be the main source where it's not toxic is actually in a tanning bed? imagine that.... i must be dreaming i think i'll wake up now. lol

James Johnston

I`m out on the breast feeding from now on!! I should have known..............I`m still a child at heart...

eileen

http://www.lse.co.uk/ShowStory.asp?s...rickets_threat

Breastfed Babies Face Rickets Threat

Friday, 22nd June 2007, 07:38
Category: Healthy Living



PROTECTING babies against skin cancer by keeping them out of the sun is putting them at risk of the bone crippling disease rickets, doctors have warned.

Breastfed infants - particularly from ethnic minorities - need a top up of vitamin D because they are no longer exposed to sufficient sunlight to generate enough of the vital nutrient themselves.

For more than ten years the government has recommended universal use of vitamin supplements to all breastfeeding babies to prevent rickets but the message is not getting through.

Rickets is rarely fatal but can soften bones and result in bowing of the legs and impede growth. It is also linked to respiratory and heart problems later in life.

Dr Scott Williamson and Dr Stephen Greene, from Ninewells Hospital in Dundee, say they have diagnosed vitamin D deficient rickets in five infants in Tayside in the past four months.

Writing in the British Medical Journal, they report none of these children or mothers had received vitamin D supplementation and their families were unaware of the need of this.

The recommendation is particularly important for those of Asian, African, Afro-Caribbean, or Middle Eastern origin with reduced exposure to sunlight as increased skin pigmentation makes it more difficult to synthesise vitamin D.

The doctors point out that the NHS Direct website is ambiguous about the need for vitamin supplements. A lack of vitamin D can also cause poor tooth formation and convulsions.

The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition has just published a position statement on vitamin D, with particular reference to preventing rickets, which highlights the need for a public health campaign and emphasises the need to supplement infants in high risk groups.

Consultant paediatrician Dr Greene and specialist registrar Dr Williamson said: "Ten years ago vitamin D deficient rickets was diagnosed in six children in Manchester, which highlighted the need to implement the government's policy on vitamin D supplementation.

"In Tayside in the past four months we have diagnosed vitamin D deficient rickets in five infants in an almost identical scenario. None of these children or mothers had received vitamin D supplementation.

"Their families were unaware of the need for this, despite the UK government recommendations for the universal use of vitamin supplements to all breastfeeding infants to prevent rickets, which have existed for over 10 years."

They added: "The signs and symptoms of rickets were recognised by the general practitioner in only one of our cases. We must disseminate the message to all health visitors and general practitioners across the UK."

The number of cases of rickets in the UK has risen in recent years. Breast milk contains many valuable nutrients but not enough Vitamin D to meet the daily requirement. Exposure to the sun's rays normally generates vitamin D in the skin, but applying sun block stops that process.

The normal source of vitamin D for a baby is sunshine, but doctors can no longer recommend that babies be put out in the sun because of the risk of skin cancer, which has increased significantly in the past several years because of the diminishing ozone layer.

Baby formula contains Vitamin D but breastfed babies likely need a liquid supplement, which can be squirted into the baby's mouth with an eyedropper.

vettes

ttt