by Dr Pandula Siribaddana

Created on: October 10, 2009   Last Updated: November 29, 2009

Vitamin D is proven to be effective in preventing bone resorption and is widely known to make us protected against rickets, osteomalacia and later on, osteoporosis.

But, in recent times, the American Academy of Paediatrics has recently renewed its guidelines for the intake of vitamin D for infants and children by two folds in view of recent research findings. The basis was the revelation that vitamin D being a key element in preventing autoimmune diseases, diabetes and cancer apart from its proven affiliations.

As you know, exposure to sunlight can bring us the necessary daily requirement of vitamin D. But, due to certain factors, we no longer get adequate requirements through these means. This is truer in infants and children than in adults. Pregnant mothers are another category which may need boosting of their intake of vitamin D.

Due to the persuasion of the scientific research, the following guidelines were laid down by the American Academy of Paediatrics as to how the vitamin D requirement of a child should be met.

Guideline 1: Breast fed or partially breast fed infants should be given a supplement of 400 IU of vitamin D from within few days of life till the child is weaned to at least 1 liter per day of vitamin D fortified formulae or whole milk.

Guideline 2: Infants who are non breast fed and those children who are not taking minimum 1 liter of vitamin D fortified formulae milk or whole milk, should be given 400 IU of vitamin D supplement.

Guideline 3: Adolescents who are not getting 400 IU of vitamin D through fortified formulae or fortified foods, should be given a daily intake of 400 IU of vitamin D.

Guideline 4: The serum levels of 25 - Hydroxy vitamin D levels should be maintained above 50 nmol/liter in infants and children.

Guideline 5: Children who are more at risk of developing increased vitamin D deficiencies such as children with mal-absorption syndrome and children who are taking anti-seizure medications should be given more vitamin D supplements than their counterparts.

These treatments needs to be decided by determining 25 - hydroxyl vitamin D levels as well as the bone mineral status.

If started on treatment, these tests should be repeated 3 monthly and 6 monthly respectively.

Further, the guideline emphasizes the need to make available the vitamin D supplements to all the children especially to the ones who are at risk.

Summary:

Based on the above guidelines, infants should be adequately breast fed and at the same time would be a good idea to start the baby of dietary vitamin D supplements for the maintenance of accepted body levels.

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