There continues to be considerable clinical and academic interest in vitamin D in children and young people. This partly relates to recognition of a resurgence of symptomatic vitamin D deficiency with reports of children presenting with rickets
or hypocalcaemic symptoms. An additional development has been the recognition that vitamin D may have a physiological extraskeletal role beyond its traditional function as a key regulator of calcium and bone metabolism. There has been a large increase in requests for measurement of vitamin D with evidence that many individuals have suboptimal vitamin D status, often without symptoms.

These guidelines have therefore been produced to guide clinicians in the appropriate investigation and management of vitamin D deficiency in children and young people. Since the production of the last guidelines in 2015, there have been some key evidence-based publications including the “Global Consensus Recommendations on Prevention and Management of Nutritional Rickets” and the latest recommendations from the UK Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN)2. The authors have sought to reflect recent literature whilst also acknowledging other developments in clinical practice over the last few years including responses to the ever-broadening range of vitamin D preparations on the market. Nonetheless, the key messages regarding the importance of prevention, vigilance and effective treatment remain the same.

Dr. Paul Arundel and Prof. Nick Shaw