As many as 70 percent of the children in the U.S. don't get enough vitamin D, according to a 2009 article by Denise Mann on CNN.com. Having low levels of vitamin D may put these children at higher risk for a number of health conditions, including heart disease, diabetes and some types of cancer.
Function
The body uses vitamin D for calcium and phosphorus absorption, bone mineralization, reducing inflammation, immune function and muscle strength. It may also be necessary for proper formation of cells. Insufficient vitamin D intake leads to soft bones, a condition called rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults.
Recommended Dosage
The Food and Nutrition Board has set adequate intakes, or AIs, for vitamin D for children. As of 2010, the AI for all infants and children is 200 IU per day. However, many doctors do not believe that this is enough. The American Academy of Pediatrics changed its guidelines in 2008 to recommend that children get 400 IU per day of vitamin D.
Sources
Fish, beef liver, egg yolks, cheese and fortified foods, including milk and some breakfast cereals and juices, are common sources of vitamin D. Although the body can produce some vitamin D with exposure to sunlight, in northern latitudes this is only possible for six to eight months of the year, due to reduced UV intensity during the fall and winter, according to the Office of Dietary Supplements.
Considerations
It would take six glasses of milk per day to reach 400 IU of vitamin D, and many children no longer spend sufficient time in the sun without sunscreen for their bodies to get the amount of UV radiation needed to produce vitamin D, according to a 2008 article by Kirk Fernandes on the ABC News website. This means most children will need to take a vitamin D supplement or multivitamin to reach this recommended amount.
Warning
Be careful not to give your children too much vitamin D, as this is a fat-soluble vitamin that is stored by the body. Too much can be toxic, causing symptoms including nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, high blood pressure, excess calcium in the blood, weakness, nervousness and excess thirst, according to Merck Manuals. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends not exceeding 400 IU of vitamin D supplements.
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