Epidemic of Infantile Rickets May have Put Thousands of Innocent Parents in Jail for Child Abuse
Video Interview of Dr. David Ayoub by Dr. Mercola: 27 minute
transcript is attached at the bottom of this page
Mercola blog post headings and highlights
- How Metabolic Bone Disease in Infants Gets Confused with Child Abuse
The risk of rickets in a twin pregnancy is 25 times higher than in a single pregnancy
We know that collagen requires vitamin D as well. - Pregnant Women: Beware of Taking TUMS!
What has now been found is that calcium carbonate can actually wreak havoc on both vitamin D levels and your bone density.
Calcium carbonate was used to cause rickets in rats in studies in 1920’– 1950’s
Need the normal ratio: 2:1 calcium to phosphorus. - Acid Reflux—An Overlooked Sign of Vitamin D Deficiency
dyspepsia, bloating, constipation, and reflux symptoms are all quite common among those with vitamin D deficiency
because of reduced esophageal motility and sphincter dysfunction - Vitamin D Is Critical During Pregnancy
- Most Infant Formulas Have an Adverse Effect on Baby's Bones
2006 study of infant forumula: palm olein has unintentional physiological consequences,
including diminished intestinal absorption of fat, palmitic acid and calcium and lower bone mass. - What About Babies with Bleeding in the Brain?
Autopsy studies . . . show that about 20 percent . . . have bleeds in the head - Widespread Systemic Changes Are Desperately Needed
See also Vitamin D Life
- Vitamin D deficiency was mistaken for child abuse in a small fraction of 2800 cases – April 2014
- Child abuse, vitamin D deficiency, or what - for parents and defense attorneys - Cannell June 2015
- 75 percent of unexplained sudden infant deaths had inadequate level of vitamin D – April 2013
- Death of Babies in UK due to vitamin D deficiency – Jan 2012
- Mother and father on trial for infant death – set free – death was due to rickets – Dec 2011
- Most European infants get vitamin D supplements, vs only 1 in 50 in US – June 2013
- Largest cause of infant deaths is respiratory infections, which is associated with low vitamin D – April 2011
- Breastfed infants: 90 percent had less than 20 ng of vitamin D, formula-fed: 15 percent – May 2013
- Many infant infections avoided with supplementation with 400 IU of vitamin D – Oct 2012
- Turkey gave 400 IU vitamin D to all infants and reduced Rickets by 60X - 2011
- WHO says that infants not need vitamin D until 6 months and only 200 IU after - 2013 this will cause a LOT of Rickets soon
- Unsupplemented infants were 19X more likely to be vitamin D deficient - May 2012
- Search Vitamin D Life for "Calcium carbonate" 126 items as of Feb 2014
- Search Vitamin D Life for "acid reflux" 15 items as of Feb 2014
- Acid Reflux drugs decrease Vitamin D and Magnesium – Jan 2013
- Infant-Child category listing
- Overview of Rickets and Vitamin D
- Overview Pregnancy and vitamin D has the following summary
| IU | Cumulative Benefit | Blood level | Cofactors | Calcium | $*/month |
| 200 | Better bones for mom with 600 mg of Calcium | 6 ng/ml increase | Not needed | No effect | $0.10 |
| 400 | Less Rickets (but not zero with 400 IU) 3X less adolescent Schizophrenia Fewer child seizures | 20-30 ng/ml | Not needed | No effect | $0.20 |
| 2000 | 2X More likely to get pregnant naturally/IVF 2X Fewer dental problems with pregnancy 8X less diabetes 4X fewer C-sections (>37 ng) 4X less preeclampsia (40 ng vs 10 ng) 5X less child asthma 2X fewer language problems age 5 | 42 ng/ml | Desirable | < 750 mg | $1 |
| 4000 | 2X fewer pregnancy complications 2X fewer pre-term births | 49 ng/ml | Should have cofactors | < 750 mg | $3 |
| 6000 | Probable: larger benefits for above items Just enough D for breastfed infant More maternal and infant weight | Should have cofactors | < 750 mg | $4 |
Some of Dr. David Ayoub publications
A critical review of the classic metaphyseal lesion: traumatic or metabolic?
AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2014 Jan;202(1):185-96. doi: 10.2214/AJR.13.10540.
Ayoub DM, Hyman C, Cohen M, Miller M.
Clinical Radiologists, SC, 1120 Williams Blvd, Springfield, IL 62704.
[http://www.ajronline.org/doi/abs/10.2214/AJR.13.10540|PDF costs $20 from publisher]
OBJECTIVE:
The purpose of this study was to review the hypothesis that classic metaphyseal lesions represent traumatic changes in abused infants and compare these lesions with healing rickets.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
Using a PubMed search, a multidisciplinary team reviewed studies that reported the histopathologic correlation of classic metaphyseal lesions. Selective studies of growth plate injury and rickets were cross-referenced.
RESULTS:
Nine identified classic metaphyseal lesion studies were performed by the same principal investigator.
Control subjects were inadequate.
Details of abuse determination and metabolic bone disease exclusion were lacking.
The presence of only a single radiology reviewer prevented establishment of interobserver variability.
Microscopy was performed by two researchers who were not pathologists.
Classic metaphyseal lesions have not been experimentally reproduced and are unrecognized in the accidental trauma literature.
The proposed primary spongiosa location is inconsistent with the variable radiographic appearances.
Classic metaphyseal lesions were not differentiated from tissue processing artifacts.
Bleeding and callus were uncommon in spite of the vascular nature of the metaphysis.
The conclusion that excessive hypertrophic chondrocytes secondary to vascular disruption were indicative of fracture healing contradicts the paucity of bleeding, callus, and periosteal reaction.
Several similarities exist between classic metaphyseal lesions and healing rickets, including
- excessive hypertrophic chondrocytes.
- "Bucket-handle" and "corner fracture" classic metaphyseal lesions
resemble healing rickets within the growth plate and the perichondrial ring, respectively.
The age of presentation was more typical of bone fragility disorders, including rickets, than reported in prior child abuse series.
CONCLUSION:
The hypothesis that classic metaphyseal lesions are secondary to child abuse is poorly supported. Their histologic and radiographic features are similar to healing infantile rickets. Until classic metaphyseal lesions are experimentally replicated and independently validated, their traumatic origin remains unsubstantiated.
Comment in
Commentary on "a critical review of the classic metaphyseal lesion: traumatic or metabolic?". [AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2014]
PMID: 24370143
Fractures: abuse or rickets?
Radiology. 2012 Aug;264(2):614-5; author reply 615-7. doi: 10.1148/radiol.12120120.
Ayoub D. letter to the editor attached at the bottom of this page
14 week infant taken from parents. took $125,000 In legal fees to get her back 3 years later March 2014
New Zealand government reimbursed their costs and returned the child.
The first legal battle was not successful and the parents had an expert flown in from England to testify in the appeal - which they won.
$125,000 NZ = $105,000 US
Shaken Baby Syndrome: A Diagnosis That Divides the Medical World New York Times Sept 2015
Does not contain "vitamin D" nor rickets
"in 2013, more than 1,500 children in the United States, or four a day, died from various forms of abuse or neglect. Nearly three-fourths of the victims were under the age of 3. "