A recent analysis suggests at least one in five U.S. children aged 1 to 11 don't get enough vitamin D and the main author says the number is between 80 and 90 percent for minority kids.
A vitamin D deficiency could put kids at risk for a variety of health problems including weak bones. Dr. Jonathan Mansbach calls the statistics for black and Hispanic children "astounding numbers" that should serve as a call to action. He's a researcher at Harvard Medical School and Children's Hospital in Boston.
Vitamin D deficiency in children, teens and adults is a concern because of recent studies suggesting the vitamin might help prevent serious diseases, including infections, diabetes and even some cancers. Exactly how much vitamin D children and adults should get, and defining when they are deficient, is still under debate.
Medical News
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Your kitchen isn't as clean as you think!
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'Rapid strides': Advances offer hope for amputees
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Report questioning salt guidelines riles heart experts
An unusual medical brawl erupted on Tuesday when the influential Institute of Medicine issued a report questioning the basis of years of advice for Americans to cut their salt intake in half. -
Chris Christie's weight-loss procedure doesn't always work
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Caffeinated gum raises health buzz
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Dr. Oz's tips for losing those last 10 pounds
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How First Lady won over Miss. on school lunches
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Anger may raise heart attack risk, study finds
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Just one daily soda can raise diabetes risk
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Gut bugs linked to heart attacks, strokes
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12 school football players die each year, study finds
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Chelation little help for heart disease: study
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Brisk walk may be as good as a run, study finds
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Smart jocks: Fit kids do better at math, reading
Forget the old high school clichés about athletes not doing as well academically as less sporty kids -- a new study shows that children who exercise more do better in math, reading tests.
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Seeing green might make your workout better
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No time to exercise? Try 10-minute workouts
The procrastinators, the super-busy, and the easily bored in pursuit of a manageable fitness routine may find what they seek in the 10-minute workout.
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Stressed? Exercise may help ward off anxiety
Exercise not only improves mood, it may help people maintain reduced anxiety in the face of stressful or emotional events, a new study says.
