Seven out of ten U.S. children found with low vitamin D levels

According to a study by researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University, seven out of ten U.S. children have low levels of vitamin D, raising their risk of bone and heart disease,  The striking findings suggest that vitamin D deficiency could place millions of children at risk for high blood pressure and other risk factors for heart disease.

The researchers also found that low levels of vitamin D deficiency were associated with poor bone health, higher systolic blood pressure, and lower calcium levels and HDL (good) cholesterol levels, which are key risk factors for heart disease.

The study, “Prevalence and Associations of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Deficiency in Children and Adolescents in the United States: Results from NHANES 2001-2004,” was published today in the online edition of Pediatrics.