An increase in the incidents of childhood rickets may be due, in part, to the overprotective sun-care habits for children. This was a study published this spring in the Journal of Pediatrics.

     Rickets is a childhood bone softening disease the was all but eraticated in the 20th century. The disease is linked to vitamin D deprivation. The report suggest that mothers who breast feed their babies need to suppliment vitamin D into their diets. It also suggested that sun prevention techniques in the past decade may be playing a role in the recurrence of this disease.

     The American Academy of Pediatrics is examining the issue of vitamin D supplimentation. Currently it recommends vitamin D supplimentation at 400 international units per day for breast fed infants whose mothers are vitamin D deficient or for those not adequately exposed to sunlight.  The report states, "Adequate sunlight exposure may be complicated by skin pigmentation, environmental conditions, or the use of sunscreens."

     The authors, led by Dr. Normal Carvalho of Children Healthcare in Atlanta, were cautious about recommending that people send their babies outdoors.  "Because sun exposure increases the risk of developing skin cancer, there is concern about recommending increased exposure," he wrote.  Carvalho's paper does represent another example of the need to consider the risks and benefits of sun exposure when evaluating public health considerations.  Tanning Trends / June 2001