---
title: Recent Study Investigates Potential Correlation Between Vitamin D Status and Bone Fracture Risk in Pediatric Populations
description: Vitamin D status may affect bone fracture risk in children, with one study linking higher blood levels to lower forearm fracture risk and faster healing.
---

[Evidence-based Wellness Education](https://www.casi.org/articles)

# [Recent Study Investigates Potential Correlation Between Vitamin D Status and Bone Fracture Risk in Pediatric Populations](https://www.casi.org/articles/vitamin-d-status-and-bone-fracture-risk)

 Written by [Cory Ambrose, ND, MAT](https://www.casi.org/articles/author/cory-ambrose-nd-mat) | Apr 10, 2023, 4:00:00 AM

Evidence suggests that vitamin D deficiency may affect approximately 1 billion individuals globally, and [insufficiencies in vitamin D](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36833994/) may affect more than 40% of the general population. Vitamin D helps support healthy bone mineralization and calcium homeostasis regulation.

Vitamin D is essential for bone formation during [childhood development](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35458099/). Deficiencies in vitamin D in the [pediatric population](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34199067/) may be a result of inadequate nutritional intake, decreased absorption, darker skin pigmentation, lack of sun exposure, and genetic conditions. Studies have shown that supplementation with vitamin D may help promote normal [bone development](https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-HealthProfessional/) and a normal immune system in pediatric populations.

[Bone fracture risk](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36833994/) due to minor trauma has been associated with vitamin D deficiencies in adult populations, but less research is available for pediatric populations. A recently published population-based, prospective case-control, randomized, cross-sectional, single-blinded study by [Herdea and colleagues](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36833994/) explored the potential connection between vitamin D status and bone fracture risk due to minor trauma in children. The study involved 688 children between ages 2 and 17 years with a history of bone fracture. The groups were divided into a control group and a treatment group receiving vitamin D and calcium supplementation for 6 months. A reference cohort consisted of more than 800 children without a history of bone fracture, but who were hospitalized for respiratory or gastrointestinal conditions.

[Study results](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36833994/) indicate that blood levels of vitamin D increased from an initial mean of 23.92 ng/mL to 44.76 ng/mL after 6 months of supplementation. After statistical analysis, the risk of certain bone fractures in the forearm decreased by 7% for every unit of increase in vitamin D status. [Improvements](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36833994/) were observed in the fracture healing process, including faster bony callus formation to be greater in the treatment group.   

[Strengths](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36833994/) in study design include a relatively large population and clearly defined biometrics. Limitations include the time frame of treatment and follow-up and the potential confounding factor of calcium as an addition to the supplement. However, [study results](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36833994/) indicate that calcium blood levels were not increased in a significant manner in the treatment group, so this may be unlikely.

More research is indicated, particularly in pediatric populations and for longer durations. However, evidence suggests that vitamin D status may play a role in children’s bone health. Sources of vitamin D are [sun exposure](https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-HealthProfessional/), certain foods (such as the flesh of fatty fish), supplementation, and certain fortified foods. Research indicates that supplementation with [vitamin D3](https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-HealthProfessional/) can be more effective at raising and maintaining vitamin D levels in the body rather than vitamin D2.

[View full post](https://www.casi.org/articles/vitamin-d-status-and-bone-fracture-risk)

```json
{
  "@context" : "http://schema.org",
  "@type" : "BlogPosting",
  "author" : {
    "@type" : "Person",
    "name" : "Cory Ambrose, ND, MAT"
  },
  "dateModified" : "2026-09-17T14:06:35.812Z",
  "datePublished" : "2023-04-10T04:00:00Z",
  "headline" : "Recent Study Investigates Potential Correlation Between Vitamin D Status and Bone Fracture Risk in Pediatric Populations",
  "image" : {
    "@type" : "ImageObject",
    "height" : 954,
    "url" : "https://51358820.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/51358820/casi/featured/adobestock_179810166.jpeg",
    "width" : 1080
  },
  "mainEntityOfPage" : "https://www.casi.org/articles/vitamin-d-status-and-bone-fracture-risk",
  "publisher" : {
    "@type" : "Organization",
    "logo" : {
      "@type" : "ImageObject",
      "height" : 60.0,
      "url" : "https://51358820.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/51358820/casilogoresize2-2.png",
      "width" : 147.05882
    },
    "name" : "CASI.org"
  }
}
```