Vitamin D supplementation had no statistically significant effects on total body bone mineral content or on bone mineral density of the hip or forearm .
It is unlikely that vitamin D supplements are beneficial in children and adolescents with normal vitamin D levels .
OBJECTIVE To determine the effectiveness of vitamin D supplementation for improving  bone mineral density in children and adolescents and if effects vary with factors such as vitamin D dose and vitamin D status .
Effect of vitamin D replacement on musculoskeletal parameters in school children: a randomized controlled trial.
BACKGROUND Despite the high prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in children and adolescents worldwide , the impact of vitamin D deficiency on skeletal health is unclear . METHODS One hundred seventy-nine girls , ages 10 - 17 yr , were r and omly assigned to receive weekly oral vitamin D doses of 1,400 IU ( equivalent to 200 IU/d ) or 14,000 IU ( equivalent to 2,000 IU/d ) in a double-blind , placebo-controlled , 1-yr protocol . Areal bone mineral density ( BMD ) and bone mineral content ( BMC ) at the lumbar spine , hip , forearm , total body , and body composition were measured at baseline and 1 yr . Serum calcium , phosphorus , alkaline phosphatase , and vitamin D metabolites were measured during the study . RESULTS In the overall group of girls , lean mass increased significantly in both treatment groups ( P < or = 0.05 ) ; bone area and total hip BMC increased in the high-dose group ( P < 0.02 ) . In premenarcheal girls , lean mass increased significantly in both treatment groups , and there were consistent trends for increments in BMD and /or BMC at several skeletal sites , reaching significance at lumbar spine BMD in the low-dose group and at the trochanter BMC in both treatment groups . There was no significant change in lean mass , BMD , or BMC in postmenarcheal girls . CONCLUSIONS Vitamin D replacement had a positive impact on musculoskeletal parameters in girls , especially during the premenarcheal period
Vitamin D supplementation had no statistically significant effects on total body bone mineral content or on bone mineral density of the hip or forearm .
It is unlikely that vitamin D supplements are beneficial in children and adolescents with normal vitamin D levels .
OBJECTIVE To determine the effectiveness of vitamin D supplementation for improving  bone mineral density in children and adolescents and if effects vary with factors such as vitamin D dose and vitamin D status .