Abstract
Recently, there has been an increase in articles on the relationship between vitamin D and fractures not only in adults (in particular elderly osteoporotic patients) but also in children. Moreover, generally low vitamin D levels in the pediatric population are frequently reported, in addition to skeletal injuries.
The authors searched the available literature to find out whether and how vitamin D affects the speed and quality of fracture healing in growing bones. A total of 37 studies have been published on the relationship between vitamin D and fracture healing.
Of those, nine focused exclusively on the growing skeleton while in the others, mainly adult patients were investigated. Only one was designed as a prospective study and only four comprised controls (usually healthy children without fractures).
In only two studies, plasma vitamin D levels were compared with healing using radiographs. In only one study and two case reports, children received vitamin D supplements.
So far, no prospective study has been performed to assess the speed and quality of fracture healing in children with respect to plasma vitamin D levels and their changes during fracture healing.