Synthesis of vitamin D in skin after burns.

Severe burn injury is associated with vitamin D deficiency, low bone turnover, and abnormalities in calcium homoeostasis. Patients do not routinely receive vitamin D supplementation and sun exposure is currently not controlled. By analysis of skin biopsy samples for vitamin D3 precursors after exposure to ultraviolet B light we found that the conversion of 7-dehydrocholesterol to previtamin D3 was reduced in children a mean of 14 months after the burn. Low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations were also found. We conclude that vitamin D supplementation is necessary after burn injury.