New Children's Vitamin D Recommendation May Require Supplementsby Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger 13 Oct 2008 05:31 PM
If you are a breast-feeding mom, then chances are that you are familiar with vitamin D supplementation. Vitamin D is usually present in formula but very little is available in breastmilk. Because of this fact, a liquid vitamin supplement that includes vitamin D is usually recommended for newborns who are breast-feeding. Older kids usually get their vitamin D from drinking regular cow's milk. The vitamin was added many years ago to both milk and formula as a way to prevent a deficiency and rickets. Rickets was a frequent bone disorder in the 1800 and early 1900s, although it still occurs today. An amount of 200 units of vitamin D daily was recommended. Now the American Academy of Pediatrics is recommending that children, from newborns through teens get 400 units of vitamin D daily, as a way of preventing serious diseases, such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease. Breast-feeding infants, some formula-feeding infants and kids who don't drink enough milk may need supplements to comply with the new updated recommendation. How much milk is needed for 400 units of vitamin D? About four full cups. Vitamin D can also be found in fortified cereal and oily fish, such as tuna. Vitamin D can also be made by the human body, when skin is exposed to sunlight. Because of concerns with sun exposure and skin cancer, supplementation is usually necessary. The change in the recommendation was prompted by numerous studies that show that Vitamin D plays a larger role in disease prevention than was originally thought. The American Academy of Pediatrics emphasizes that there is no hard scientific evidence that can point to the exact amount of vitamin D that would be needed for disease prevention. Click here for more articles by Mary Ann Romans. The Link Between C-Sections and Childhood Asthma Using Infant or Children's Tylenol May Increase the Risk for Asthma Bottle Feeding Past 15 Months Linked to Iron Deficiency Preventing and Treating Dehydration Learn more about Mary Ann Romans  Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat. Relevantbaby tags User Comments  Kara (21275) 13 Oct 2008 06:12 PMMy dad says (who is no scientist or doctor) that 15 minutes of sunlight a day is enough.  Mary Ann Romans (26876) 13 Oct 2008 06:33 PMThat was the general recommendation before. With the new recommendations plus the concern regarding skin cancer, your best bet is to check with your general doctor or pediatrician.  ruthann8 (6378) 13 Oct 2008 07:05 PMI had never heard the the vitamin D supplementation. My doctor never recommended it. Is it really common for breastfeeding moms to supplement with vitamin D?  Valorie Delp (49340) 14 Oct 2008 04:20 AMI've written about breastfeeding and Vitamin D. I actually really disagree with the AAP on this one and think they are smoking out their hay stacks. ;-) Mary Ann Romans (26876) 14 Oct 2008 04:24 AMVal, could you give us the link to your article here? I think it would be helpful. Mary Ann Romans (26876) 14 Oct 2008 04:27 AMRuthann, it is standard practice at my pediatrician's office. They start out with the over the counter TriVi, which generally contains C, E and D, I believe. Then the go to the PolyVi, which has more. Also, if your water doesn't have flouride, you might get a vitamin that contains that as well. Valorie Delp (49340) 14 Oct 2008 08:31 AMLOL That requires work. . . ;-) I'm just a naturalist I guess. Breastmilk is specifically for feeding babies. . .and in fact, it is designed to ensure survival. So I tend to think that if babies really needed extra vitamins, that it would be in the breastmilk. (On a side note. . .in your spare time do some research on how vitamins affect metabolism for things like iron, calories, digestible fat, etc.--very interesting.) Valorie Delp (49340) 14 Oct 2008 08:34 AMhttp://baby.families.com/blog/ask-a-baby-blogger-vitamin-d-supplements-amp-breastfeeding There's the link. Remember that this article was written awhile ago and so recommendations have changed (as M.A. has pointed out). So when I talk about the AAP saying sunlight is sufficient--they don't say that anymore. ;-) Kara (21275) 14 Oct 2008 08:43 AMInteresting I didn't realize that darker skin has a harder time absorbing the vitamin D via sunlight anyway! Kate isn't that dark but definitly darker than her momma. Mary Ann Romans (26876) 14 Oct 2008 09:35 AMThere has actually been a rise in the case of Rickets in the U.S., a condition that was thought pretty much gone in our society. Now, many of the cases are because of general malnutrition of children, but there is still quiet a few that are seen in otherwise "healthy children because of the combination of staying indoors more, using sunscreen when outdoors and not drinking enough fortified milk. Mary Ann Romans (26876) 14 Oct 2008 09:39 AMVal, the only argument I would have about vitamin D and breastmilk is that it really is only in the last 100 years or so that not getting enough sunlight has been an issue, first through heavy industrialization that has blocked sunlight from reaching people during the height of the industrial age (think of London when on some days the combination of soot and smog made you unable to see in front of your face in the middle of the day) and later the danger of sunlight and skin cancer. Mary Ann Romans (26876) 14 Oct 2008 09:58 AMI meant to add this: Maybe evolution needs to catch up a bit to include more vitamin D in breastmilk. Valorie Delp (49340) 14 Oct 2008 12:47 PMROFL. . .except I don't believe in evolution. ;-) I understand that I'm somewhat alone on this (there are pedis like dr. sears and others that would back me up on this). . .and yet my five healthy children would indicate that I'm not so far off. . .especially considering that we lived in a city that is one of the most heavily populated and densely polluted. If someone's asking me my advice I'd say talk to their pedi. But for us personally, we don't do vitamins at that age bc I really believe in the all sufficiency of bm. I tend to think that we're kind of paranoid honestly.  deedee1231 (4030) 14 Oct 2008 01:03 PMWhen Erica (now 15 years old) was a baby I bf exclusively. Everything was perfect with her, soft stools, good apetite, no spitting up, etc... until at her 6 weeks check up the pedi prescribed poly-vi. As soon as I started giving her that junk, she was cranky, collicky, spitting up, constipated, you name it! So I threw it out and refused to give further supplements. She was back to her old self within a few days. Every subsequent child, I have shunned vitamin supplements and they are all very hale and hearty, LOL. They do drink vitamin D enriched milk daily and see at least 15 minutes of sunshine a day, even when it is cold. Mary Ann Romans (26876) 14 Oct 2008 04:53 PMI think the PolyVi has artificial color in it, which is not my idea of healthy. LOL. Mary Ann Romans (26876) 14 Oct 2008 04:59 PMVal, do you believe that there is evolution within a species? In order words, not that man came from an ape but that both an ape and man can adapt to the environment? Valorie Delp (49340) 14 Oct 2008 05:55 PMHey now. . .that's an entirely different topic all together. ;-) My short answer though is no--I think science contraindicates that in most cases. jeremydennis (5) 18 Feb 2009 03:58 AMI had heard the vitamin D supplementation. My doctor not recommended it yet. I think supplementation of vitamin D can be full fill by cod liver oil, milk, fish and egg ... etc. The main source of vitamin D is sun light, only 15 - 20 minutes is required everyday to get the vitamin D. Jeremy Supplements from Foods firstoption1 (5) 18 Feb 2009 04:09 AMA Canadian company, Naturally Nova Scotia, makes supplements from foods instead of synthetics. The have vitamin C from fruit, herbal tinctures, green drinks, vitamin D3, and others. For more details.. --------------------------------------------- Thanks Pathak Supplements from Foods-Supplements from Foods Mary Ann Romans (26876) 18 Feb 2009 05:55 AMNatural food choices are the best, I think for Vitamin D. Community Tags American Academy of Pediatrics, infants, newborn, vitamin d Discuss this article
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