FORMAL OUTLINE FORMAT

Students Name:

Bridget Coffie

Date:

November 11, 2016

Topic:

Vitamin D in children.

General Purpose:

To inform.

Specific Purpose:

To inform the audience about vitamin D and why it is essential in children.

Thesis:

Global vitamin D deficiency in children is preventable.

I.

Introduction
A. Attention Getter: In recent times, there have been numerous records indicating a high
prevalence of inadequate vitamin D status in children across the world. Connected
with growing concerns about the health risks related to vitamin D status in children,
this has stemmed into a global increased interest in the topic of vitamin D deficiency
in children. Scientists now recognize that vitamin D deficiency has long-term
consequences in children. A prolonged vitamin D deficiency is a detriment to the a
growing skeleton, resulting in rickets, an irrevocable bowing of the leg bone and
abnormality of the joint and teeth with long term implications on skeletal growth.
Numerous researchers have discovered the risk factors for vitamin D deficiency in
children and these include limited sun exposure, skin pigmentation, and low intake of
vitamin D rich foods. Also, low maternal-circulating vitamin D levels during
pregnancy and lactation may impact bone development. However, vitamin D
deficiency in children is preventable through lifestyle changes; a potentially powerful
means of improving children's health.
B. Thesis Statement: Global vitamin D deficiency in children is preventable.
C. Preview of Main Points:
1. First, I will describe what vitamin D deficiency is and what causes it.
2. Second, I will examine risk factors of vitamin D deficiency in children.
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3. Third, I will discuss the various measures that can be used to prevent vitamin D
II.

III.

deficiency in children.
Global vitamin D deficiency in children is preventable.
A. What is vitamin D deficiency in children.
1. Low vitamin D status in children.
a. Skeletal deformities.1
b. Serious health consequences.2
2. Intestinal dysfunction.
a. Disorders of nutrient absorption.3
b. Impaired liver and kidney function.4
B. Risk factors of vitamin D deficiency in children
1. Social and cultural practices.
a. Limited sunshine exposure.5
b. Inadequate of vitamin D rich food.6
c. Skin pigmentation.7
d. Maternal vitamin D status.6
C. How to prevent vitamin D deficiency in children.
1. Recommended Dietary Allowance for vitamin D.
a. Supplementation of vitamin D.4
b. Dietary intake rich in vitamin D.8
2. Adequate sunshine exposure.
a. Walk in the sun without sunscreen.9
b. Exposure of the body to sunshine.10
Conclusion. Vitamin D deficiency is a serious health problem among children across
the world. Children who are vitamin D deficient are at a high risk of skeletal
deformities and they are also prone to health related problems. Studies have
discovered that factors such as limited sunshine exposure, skin color, and inadequate
intake of dietary and supplementation of vitamin D are associated with vitamin D
deficiency in children. Also, low levels of vitamin D in maternal blood during
pregnancy affects the neonatal blood resulting in vitamin D deficiency for mother and
baby. This problem has drawn attention to health professionals and researchers to
delve into the causes in order to find preventive measures to alleviate vitamin D
deficiency to improve childrens health.

References
1. Patience S. Promoting vitamin D uptake in infants and children. Br. J Midwifery [serial
online]. 2015;23:10-13.

The author of this article states that parents and health professionals are in a better
position to monitor vitamin D intake in children and infant,s and to identify those who are
at risk of vitamin deficiency in children. The author suggests that parents and health
professionals use supplementation to meet vitamin D requirements due to its essential
roles in the body. Also, the author describes how children are easily prone to vitamin D
deficiency and suggests steps for prevention.

2. Lockyer V, Porcellato L, Gee I. Vitamin D deficiency and supplementation: are we failing

to prevent the preventable?. Community Pract [serial online]. 2011;84(3):23-26.

The authors affirm that rickets is a general health problem in the United Kingdom
because health professionals do not pay attention to recommendations for vitamin D
supplementation and preventive measures. The vision of the study is to determine the
level of understanding of community midwifery about vitamin D deficiency and
supplementation. The author advises health professionals to realize the prevalence of
vitamin deficiency among children and to follow recommendations for supplementations.
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Health professionals need to educate families of the problem and effective preventive
measures to eradicate rickets in children
3. Belal Said N. Vitamin D Deficiency in Critically Ill Children. IJCS [serial online].
2014;7(2):381-389.
This article is intended to inform its readers about the relationship between
vitamin D deficiency and health related problems in children. The article depicts the
importance of vitamin D in the body and the need to know its requirements, and how to
keep it within normal range. The author advises health professionals and parents to be
familiar with vitamin D and its health implications and recommends preventive measures.
4. O'Malley T, Heuberger R. Vitamin D status and supplementation in pediatric
gastrointestinal disease. J Spec Pediatr Nurs [serial online]. 2011;16(2):140-150.
doi:10.1111/j.1744-6155.2011.00280.x.

The authors of this article affirm that children with vitamin D deficiency easily
develop gastrointestinal diseases due to malabsorption. Vitamin D deficiency is caused by
so many factors, such as dysfunction of certain organs that decreases vitamin D
absorption. They suggest that vitamin D levels in children should be monitored and to
administer suitable treatment to achieve vitamin D adequacy in children.

5. Mitchell D. The relationship between vitamin D and cancer. Clin J Oncol Nurs [serial
online]. 2011;15(5):557-560.
The author describes how people obtain vitamin D. She explains that inadequate
levels of vitamin D endanger childrens lives and specifically affects their bones. The
author points out that geographical location influences inadequate vitamin D in children.
Although sunshine is the primary source of vitamin D, too much exposure poses high risk
of skin cancer.
6. Kazemi A, Sharifi F, Jafari N, Mousavinasab N. High prevalence of vitamin D deficiency
among pregnant women and their newborns in an Iranian population. J Womens Health
(15409996) [serial online]. 2009;18(6):835-839. doi:10.1089/jwh.2008.0954.
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The authors of this article ascertain that vitamin D plays a vital role during
pregnancy and this can affect both the mother and the baby. The study was conducted to
examine the identification of vitamin D inadequacy in pregnancy and the problems
associated with maternal blood and neonate blood. The authors investigate the causes of
hypovitaminosis D and the measures for treating it.

7. Patience S. Vitamin D deficiency in at-risk groups. Community Pract. 2013;86(3):38-40.

The article addresses the important role of vitamin D in the immune system. The
author asserts that vitamin D deficiency has a relationship between a mothers level of
vitamin D and that of her breastfeeding baby. The goal of the study is to help health
professionals to monitor mothers and their babies who are at a high risk of vitamin D
deficiency.

8. Grasso D, Rafferty MA. Vitamin D: Implications of the Institute of Medicine report for
clinical practice. Am J Nurse Pract. 2012;16(1/2):35-40.
The primary goal of this article is to address the consequences surrounding
vitamin D deficiency and suggests precaution measures for primary care nurse
practitioners. The authors investigate if low levels of vitamin D are associated with health
related problems. They point out that vitamin D plays an essential role in calcium and
phosphorous absorption.
9. Sahota JK, Shaw N. Preventing vitamin D deficiency in children in the UK. Nurse
Prescribing [serial online]. 2014;12(12):596-602.
This study informs its readers that vitamin D is very vital for healthy bones and
promotes quality health and growth. The study describes how vitamin D deficiency
causes growth retardation and other health related problems in children in the United
Kingdom. All health professionals should work together to fight against vitamin D
deficiency in children.
10. Prentice A. Standing on the shoulders of giants: Understanding calcium and vitamin D
requirements. Nutr Bull [serial online]. 2013;38(3):323-331. dOI: 10.1111/nbu.12043.

The author of this article tries to update the knowledge of the general public about
calcium and vitamin D. The author explains that calcium and vitamin D work
collaboratively in the body. The author explains that nutrition and bone health of mothers
affects their babies and that rickets in children is associated with low calcium and low
vitamin D. The article indicates that children suffering from rickets can be cured with
enough sunlight exposure.