VitaminD

Vitamin D is essential for skeletal growth and bone health. Severe deficiency can result in rickets (among children) and osteomalacia (among children and adults). Dietary sources are limited. National surveys suggest that around a fifth of adults and 8 to 24% of children may have low vitamin D status.  

Mothers who take vitamin D supplements while pregnant may have winter babies with better bone health, but high-dose supplements may weaken the mom's femoral bones, according to two studies.  

A large randomized trial failed to show that vitamin D and calcium supplements reduced the risk for colorectal adenomas in a high-risk population.  

Recommending high doses of vitamin D is routine in some multiple sclerosis centers.  

It may make more sense to prescribe vitamin D to pregnant and lactating mothers than to breast-fed infants, but who will pay?