Published in:
01-06-2017
The vitamin D deficiency pandemic: Approaches for diagnosis, treatment and prevention
Author:
Michael F. Holick
Published in:
Reviews in Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders
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Issue 2/2017
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Abstract
Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency is a global health issue that afflicts more than one billion children and adults worldwide. The consequences of vitamin D deficiency cannot be under estimated. There has been an association of vitamin D deficiency with a myriad of acute and chronic illnesses including preeclampsia, childhood dental caries, periodontitis, autoimmune disorders, infectious diseases, cardiovascular disease, deadly cancers, type 2 diabetes and neurological disorders. This review is to put into perspective the controversy surrounding the definition for vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency as well as providing guidance for how to treat and prevent vitamin D deficiency.