Document Detail


SOLAR ultraviolet radiation and vitamin D: a historical perspective.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  17761571     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Rickets, the state of vitamin D deficiency, has reemerged as a potential problem in the United States. At the dawn of the 20th century, rickets was pervasive among infants residing in the polluted cities of Europe and the northeastern United States. Important milestones in the history of rickets were the understanding that photosynthesized vitamin D and dietary vitamin D were similar, the discernment of the antirachitic potency of artificial and natural ultraviolet rays, and the discovery that ultraviolet irradiation could render various foods antirachitic. Clinical guidelines were instituted to promote sensible exposure to sunlight and artificial ultraviolet radiation. In addition, irradiated ergosterol from yeast became the major vitamin D source for food fortification and the treatment of rickets, leading to a public health campaign to eradicate rickets by the 1930s. We review the sequence and turn of events pertaining to the discovery of vitamin D and the strategies for the eradication of the reemerging rickets problem.
Authors:
Kumaravel Rajakumar; Susan L Greenspan; Stephen B Thomas; Michael F Holick
Publication Detail:
Type:  Historical Article; Journal Article; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.     Date:  2007-08-29
Journal Detail:
Title:  American journal of public health     Volume:  97     ISSN:  1541-0048     ISO Abbreviation:  Am J Public Health     Publication Date:  2007 Oct 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2007-09-26     Completed Date:  2007-10-09     Revised Date:  2010-09-15    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  1254074     Medline TA:  Am J Public Health     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  1746-54     Citation Subset:  AIM; IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pa 15213, USA. kumaravel.rajakumar@chp.edu
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Bone Density Conservation Agents / history*,  therapeutic use
History, 17th Century
History, 18th Century
History, 19th Century
History, 20th Century
Humans
Rickets / drug therapy,  history*,  prevention & control
Ultraviolet Therapy / history*
United States
Vitamin D / history*,  therapeutic use
Grant Support
ID/Acronym/Agency:
P60 MD000207/MD/NCMHD NIH HHS
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Bone Density Conservation Agents; 1406-16-2/Vitamin D
Comments/Corrections
Erratum In:
Am J Public Health. 2007 Dec;97(12):2121

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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