Posts tagged as:

vitamin D

Health headlines: Sports injuries, lazy ear and lice

by Children's Hospital Boston staff on March 13, 2010

Sports injury Other stories we’ve been reading:

Be sure to keep liquid detergent capsules out of your kids’ reach. Scientists find out why Vitamin D is important. [Read how children are at risk of a Vitamin D deficiency.]There’s a jump in kids’ sports injuries due to overuse. [Read about how girls' soccer injuries are preventable.]

Twenty percent of U.S. babies don’t get the hepatitis B vaccine. A Canadian vaccine study proves the idea of “herd community.” [Read about this year's vaccine schedule.] A new drug could help protect against treatment-resistant lice.

Parents can help prevent bullying by modeling kindness and empathy. [Find out how to address bullying.] Girls start bullying at a younger age.

Special needs kids are often uninsured. Can a behavioral optometrist help kids with “issues?”

A consumer groups gives food advertisers an “F” on kids. Taxing soda and pizza could help consumers lose five pounds a year. Schools are serving less sugary drinks. [Read about artificially sweetened beverages.]

A stomach bug can raise a child’s risk of having irritable bowel syndrome. Temporary hearing impairment leads to lazy ear.

Peanut allergies are linked to worse asthma in kids. A family finds success using a pediatric obesity program.

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This week on Thrive: Oct. 26 – 30

by Children's Hospital Boston staff on November 1, 2009

Here’s a look at what Thrive was up to last week.

Frances Jensen, MD, senior associate in Neurology, was featured in a piece on 60 Minutes about the prevalence of epilepsy and the importance of funding research that can lead to its cure. It’s clearer than ever before: American children are suffering from a Vitamin D deficiency. A novel surgery saves one baby’s vision. The HealthMap team gives our weekly H1N1 update. Children’s doctors talk about how easily H1N1 spreads and Dr. Sanjay Gupta visits Children’s. Our Mediatrician tackles “slut lists” and a Children’s expert offers parents a guide to a healthful Halloween.

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Vitamin D: A generation at risk

by Nancy Fliesler on October 27, 2009

vit_d A study in the November Pediatrics adds to mounting evidence that the U.S. population is starved of an important nutrient—vitamin D. Based on the latest analysis of national data, roughly 20 percent of all children in this country fall below the blood level of vitamin D recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (50 nmol/L).

And far more—two thirds—fall below 75 nmol/L, the level many people now believe should be the standard. A shocking 80 percent of Hispanic children and 92 percent of Black children fall short.

If not corrected, this deficiency will put an entire generation of children at greater risk. [click to continue…]

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Health headlines: Bone health, music and secondhand smoke

by Annie Cardi on August 28, 2009

Other children’s health stories we’ve been reading:

A new study finds that low-birth-weight babies are more likely to have low bone density when they get older. Those born preterm should be extra vigilant about getting enough calcium and vitamin D. For more about bone health, check out a post by Catherine Gordon, MD, MSc, director of the Bone Health Program at Children’s.
Gina Clowes from Allergy Moms shares 10 Things Food Allergic Children Want You to Know. What do your children wish other people knew about living with allergies? [click to continue…]

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Widespread vitamin D deficiency raises serious concerns

by Children's Hospital Boston staff on August 11, 2009

GordonCatherine

by Catherine Gordon, MD, MSc

Vitamin D deficiency affects people of all ages, including children. Lifestyle factors leading to increased vitamin D deficiency in children and teenagers include less time being spent outdoors, replacement of sodas and other beverages for vitamin D-fortified milk and increased use of sunscreen. [click to continue…]

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