Effective Counseling for Children's Bone Health

Poor bone health is a significant contributing factor to the frequency and severity of many childhood injuries and fractures. Osteoporosis starts in childhood. Therefore, it is important to optimize bone health in children in order to decrease the risk of injury, improve healing and maximize peak bone mass. To do this, pediatricians and pediatric orthopedists need to effectively counsel patients and families to give them the tools necessary to effect lasting change. Bone health is a recipe that requires ingredients including calcium, vitamin D, vitamin C, vitamin K and physical exercise. Required amounts of each component change as children grow and are lifelong requirements. Unfortunately, at this time, there is no uniform consensus on vitamin D supplementation guidelines or optimal serum levels. Current vitamin D dosing guidelines are age-based, but vitamin D is stored in adipose tissue and higher weights/BMIs require higher doses of vitamin D. Routine monitoring of vitamin D is recommended in all patients. However, re-evaluating the dosing guidelines to base them on weight/BMI, rather than age, should be considered. Key Concepts (1)Bone health needs to be prioritized so that peak bone mass is reached by age 30.(2)Patient counseling and patient buy-in are imperative to create lasting impact.(3)Bone health is a recipe and amounts of ingredients needed will vary according to growth and body size.(4)Vitamin D dosing should take weight and body mass into consideration to achieve optimal serum levels.