Abstract
Vitamin D deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency worldwide, characterized by serum 25(OH)D < 50 nmol/L. It is usually caused by sun avoidance, using sun protection, inadequate dietary and supplementary vitamin D intake, malabsorption syndrome and usage of medications. Most of the patients are asymptomatic; severe and prolonged vitamin deficiency causes rickets and growth retardation in children and osteomalacia, osteopenia and osteoporosis in adults. Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency are treated with supplementary vitamin D and sensible sunlight exposure.
Highlights
Vitamin D deficiency has been recognized as a worldwide health issue that affects musculoskeletal system and a wide range of other acute and chronic medical conditions
Calcitriol is generally not suitable for treatment of vitamin D deficiency as it has a narrow therapeutic window resulting in an increased risk of hypocalcaemia or hypercaluria
It has a role in the treatment of vitamin D deficiency in renal failure where there is inability to convert 25-hydroxyvitamin D to [1,25] hydroxyvitamin D
Summary
Vitamin D deficiency has been recognized as a worldwide health issue that affects musculoskeletal system and a wide range of other acute and chronic medical conditions. It is the most common nutritional deficiency in both children and adult worldwide.[3,4] Patients who are already deficient require larger doses. Prompt history taking and clinical examination would be very helpful in making the clinical diagnosis of vitamin D deficiency and identifying individuals at high-risk.
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