[Recommendations of vitamin D supplements for toddlers frequently disregarded]

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Nutritional Science
• Public Health

Background:

• Colecalciferol (vitamin D) supplementation is crucial for bone health in young children.
• Understanding current supplementation practices is essential for public health initiatives.
• Rickets, a condition caused by vitamin D deficiency, is a concern in pediatric populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the prevalence and patterns of colecalciferol use in children aged 1 to 4 years in the Netherlands.
• To identify factors influencing colecalciferol supplementation, such as age and maternal origin.
• To evaluate the appropriateness of prescribed colecalciferol dosages.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study was conducted in April 1998.
• Data were collected from 660 children aged 1-4 years across fifteen health centers in the Netherlands.
• Information on colecalciferol preparation, dosage, child's age, and mother's country of origin was gathered during medical examinations.

Main Results:

• 57% of children received daily colecalciferol at recommended doses (10-15 micrograms).
• 15% of children received no supplementation, with non-use increasing from 9% at age 1 to 26% at age 4.
• Children of European mothers were more likely to receive recommended colecalciferol doses compared to those of non-European mothers.

Conclusions:

• While a majority of young children in the Netherlands receive adequate colecalciferol, a significant portion, particularly older children, are not supplemented.
• Disparities in supplementation exist based on maternal origin.
• Rickets appears to be infrequent among otherwise healthy children, suggesting current public health strategies may be largely effective, but adherence requires monitoring.