Management of vitamin D deficiency in childhood and adolescence.

There are some children and young people who will need specialist management for vitamin D deficiency in paediatric endocrine services. However, health problems caused by vitamin D deficiency are generally preventable, hence the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommendations for the provision of NHS Healthy Start vitamins to be available to all pregnant and breastfeeding women and children under five years of age. All health professionals, not just specialist services, need to be confident in their knowledge and understanding of the importance of vitamin D in normal growth and development to enable early identification of children and young people at risk who are in need of early intervention and education.