Vitamin D deficiency is now recognized as an epidemic in the United States. The major
source of vitamin D for both children and adults is from sensible sun exposure. In the
absence of sun exposure 1000 IU of cholecalciferol is required daily for both children and
adults. Vitamin D deficiency causes poor mineralization of the collagen matrix in young
children's bones leading to growth retardation and bone deformities known as rickets. In
adults, vitamin D deficiency induces secondary hyperparathyroidism, which causes a loss of …