Vitamin D deficiency: Historical perspectives

Abstract

In the last few decades, we have witnessed the resurgence of rickets (clinical vitamin D de fi ciency disorder) in vulnerable populations of infants. Recent National Health and Nutrition Examination surveys also show high rates of biochemical vitamin D insuf fi ciency and de fi ciency in representative samples of healthy adolescents and adults in the USA. Scienti fi c advances in the vitamin D fi eld have emphasized the relevance of optimal vitamin D status for skeletal and nonskeletal health outcomes. In this context of refocused attention on vitamin D, we have reviewed the history of vitamin D and rickets, and the historical perspectives on vitamin D metabolism.