How much vitamin D for infants?

Posted on Tue, 1 Oct 13

Vitamin D deficiency in newborn infants is very common and can have important negative effects on skeletal growth and development. A daily vitamin D supplement is cheap, safe and recommended to keep kids healthy.

Most health authorities recommend maintaining a blood level of vitamin D above 50 nmol/l in infants, but what dose of vitamin D will achieve this?

A recent Danish study found that daily supplementation at a dose of 400 IU (10 μg) a day maintained blood levels above 50 nmol/l in 85–90% of infants up to 9 months. 

Although most of the women in this study also took vitamin D at a dose of 400 IU throughout pregnancy, which is in line with Nordic recommendations for pregnant women. The mother’s use of vitamin D also positively influenced the children’s blood levels.

“It currently appears that 400 IU per day of vitamin D among healthy infants is safe and effective in achieving a circulating vitamin D above 50 nmol/l” commented Dr Mairead Kiely from the Vitamin D Research Group, School of Food and Nutritional Science, University College Cork.

The ESPGHAN Committee on Nutrition has recently recommend that all infants should receive a supplement of 400 IU per day of vitamin D pointed out Dr Kiely. Although some infants may need more depending on their blood levels.

References:

Við Streym S, Kristine Moller U, Rejnmark L, Heickendorff L, Mosekilde L, Vestergaard P. Maternal and infant vitamin D status during the first 9 months of  infant life-a cohort study. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2013 Sep 4. doi: 10.1038/ejcn.2013.152. [Epub ahead of print]

Kiley M. Prevention of vitamin D deficiency during infancy is achieved by a combination of low-dose maternal and infant supplementation. Eur J Clin Nutr (2013) 67, 1010–1011; doi:10.1038/ejcn.2013.153