New studies show American kids are Vitamin D-deficient

Two new studies in the current issue of the journal Pediatrics report that at least 70 percent of American children and adolescents aren't getting enough vitamin D, and these kids tend to have higher blood pressure and lower levels of good cholesterol than their peers, according to a CNN report. Experts note that low vitamin D levels also may increase a child's risk of developing heart disease later in life. In a study of more than 6000 subjects, aged 1 to 21, researchers from Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, report that 7.6 million, or 9 percent, were vitamin-D deficient, and another 50.8 million, or 61 percent, had insufficient levels of the vitamin in their blood. Children with low levels of Vitamin D had higher blood pressure and lower levels of HDL or good cholesterol. In the second study, researchers from Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, exsamined 3,577 adolescents ages 12 to 19. Teens with low levels of vitamin D were more likely to display high blood pressure, high levels of blood glucose, as well as metabolic syndrome (a cluster of factors known to increase risk of heart disease) than their counterparts with adequate vitamin D in their blood. Children can get Vitamin D from some foods, but it's usually not enough, but supplements will help. The best option is to allow children to get 10 to 15 minutes of natural sunlight each day.