Surge in US Outpatient Vitamin D Deficiency Diagnoses

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A study has just been published in the Southern Medical Journal about the increase in Vitamin D deficiency diagnoses in outpatient facilities during 2007-2010. 97% of the diagnoses were for unspecific Vitamin D deficiencies. And about 10% were related to bone disease and osteoporosis. The conclusion of the study was that there needs to be a preventive screening for the deficiency so that it can be treated before it actually starts to effect the patients. The most severe Vitamin D deficiency is rickets which is when the bone does not mineralize and are soft and the skeleton develops deformities. This is definitely something that RDs should be aware of and advocate for patients to be physically active in the sun and consume milk products if they can. Also this could mean that that kidney is having a problem converting vitamin D to its active form in order for the body to use it. What can RDs do to help prevent the increasing diagnoses of Vitamin D deficiency?

-TD

link to article: http://sma.org/southern-medical-journal/article/surge-in-us-outpatient-vitamin-d-deficiency-diagnoses-national-ambulatory-medical-care-survey-analysis/

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