Many seemingly healthy infants and toddlers may have low levels of vitamin D. About one-third of those show evidence of reduced bone mineral content on X-rays.
Researchers at Children's Hospital Boston, studied over 350 apparently healthy children aged 8 months to 24 months. 12.1 percent had a vitamin D deficiency, and 40 percent had vitamin D levels below the accepted optimal level.
32.5 percent of the children with vitamin D deficiency showed evidence of bone mineral loss, and 7.5 percent exhibited changes to their bones suggestive of rickets.