Vitamin D and the Prevention of Rickets in Children.

Why is having sufficient vitamin D so important for children?

Let us look at some of the early discoveries documented by medical doctors, with respect to children who had serious problems in their long bones. This will also show why professional guidelines are still important, in making sure that your child or children always receive sufficient vitamin D.

In the 17th century, Daniel Whistler and Francis Glisson noted "a childhood disease characterized by impeded growth and deformity of the long bones, called rickets." (1) While medical doctors observed the disease process affecting a large number of children, no one actually related it to a vitamin deficiency, at this time. A number of medical professionals, including Whistler, became seriously concerned about it.

"His inaugural dissertation at Leyden, read 18 October 1645, 'De Morbo puerili Anglorum, quern patrio idiomate indgense vocant', or "The Rickets" is his only published work and the first printed book on rickets. He reprinted it in 1684." (2) Whistler's work discussed extensive observations documented by Francis Glisson and other medical professionals from the College of Physicians, rather than his own observations. Five years later, in 1650, Glisson published the Tractatus de Rachitide. (3) The disease process identified, at this time, was 'Paedossplanchnosteocaces'. (4)

There was no known cure for rickets and no one had considered vitamin D in children's diets, as being a possible factor in the prevention of rickets.

Edward Mellanby discovered the "the role of diet in the development of rickets" many years later, in1918-1920. (5) "In 1921, Elmer McCollum identified a substance found in certain fats that could prevent rickets." (6) The substance that McCollum identified was what we now know to be vitamin D. Those children who were deficient in vitamin D, suffered from rickets. To understand just how serious the medical situation was, at this time, note the following statement:

"Prior to the fortification of milk products with vitamin D, rickets was a major public health problem. In the United States, the fortification of milk with 10 micrograms (400 IU) of vitamin D per quart in the 1930s, led to a dramatic decline in the number of rickets cases." (7)

Rickets is still a disease process that can occur in children, if or when there is a lack of vitamin D in their diets. In other words, we know that this particular disease still exists,

• 1
• 2
• 3
• next page >>

---

Add your voice

Know something about Professional guidelines for making sure your children have sufficient vitamin D?
We want to hear your view. Write now!