did you know
D
VITA
MIN
IS YOUR BABY
GETTING ENOUGH?
Vitamin D helps to ensure that our
bodies absorb and retain calcium
and phosphorous, which are both
needed for building strong bones.
The need for vitamin D begins even
before a baby is born; insufficient
intake can put an infant’s
bone development at risk.
by Jennifer Lester MS, RD, CSP, LDN, CNSC
WHY IS VITAMIN D SO ESSENTIAL?
Severe vitamin D deficiency can lead to
nutritional rickets, which can cause softened
and weakened bones. This disease is most
often seen in children younger than two
years of age. Because recent studies have
shown that most infants in the United States
have not been consuming enough vitamin D,
the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
now recommends that all infants have a
minimum intake of 400 International Units
(IU) of vitamin D per day beginning soon
after birth.
HOW DOES THE BODY
GET VITAMIN D?
Vitamin D can be obtained in two ways:
first, from the foods we eat; and second,
made in the skin after exposure to ultraviolet
(UV) light.
VITAMIN D FROM THE SUN
Despite the ability to absorb Vitamin D from
the sun, we have learned over the past few
decades that the sun’s rays are harmful
to our skin. The AAP recommends that
children six months of age and younger be
kept out of the sun altogether. Infants six
months and older should wear protective
clothing and sunscreen to minimize their
exposure to sunlight. Short periods of sun
exposure are sometimes recommended as
a way to obtain vitamin D, but sun exposure
must be handled safely, since its impact
on skin cancer in the future is not
well known. Sun exposure can
also be an unreliable source of
vitamin D because of latitude,
season, sunscreen use, skin
pigmentation, and pollution.
Because of this, infants must
obtain the majority of the vitamin
D they need from their diets.
VITAMIN D FROM FOOD
According to the AAP, the primary source of
nutrition for infants should be breast milk or,
if breast milk is not available, infant formula.
Because breast milk does not contain
enough vitamin D, breastfed or partially
breastfed infants should be supplemented
with 400 IU of vitamin D per day beginning
in the first few days of life. If a baby is on an
infant formula, they still may need a vitamin
D supplement. All infant formulas are made
to provide 400 IU of vitamin D in 32 ounces
(about 1 liter), but if an infant is drinking less
than 32 ounces of formula each day, vitamin
D supplementation is needed.
Liquid supplements are the best option
for breast- or formula-fed infants. Some
preparations provide the recommended
amount of 400 IU in ½ mL, 1 mL, or a
one-drop dose. Supplementation should
continue until a baby is weaned to at least
24 ounces of vitamin D-fortified whole
milk per day. It’s important to
remember, though, that whole
milk should not be started
until an infant is 12 months of
age. When solid foods are
introduced, babies can get
vitamin D from foods like oily fish
(such as salmon), egg yolks, and
fortified foods like yogurt, cheese,
and ready-to-eat cereals.
PREGNANT MOMS NEED
VITAMIN D, TOO
Pregnant women must also be sure to get
enough vitamin D, since their intake directly
affects their baby’s vitamin D levels at birth
and during the first two to three months of
life. Unfortunately, research has shown that
most infants will not meet their goal intake
of vitamin D during their first year of life.
Pregnant moms should speak with their
obstetricians to have their vitamin D levels
checked. Your pediatrician can also help to
determine if your baby needs to have their
vitamin D levels checked.
enhance magazine | MARCH 2018
3