Most vitamin deficiencies are rare among infants in industrialized countries. Commercial infant formulas contain adequate calories and vitamins to be well-balanced food for your baby, but breast milk is considered the ideal food. Taking a multivitamin while breastfeeding can help ensure your baby gets the necessary vitamins in case your diet is lacking. Multivitamin drops for your infant are usually unnecessary until weaning, when introducing solid food may mean a temporary decrease in vitamin intake. The most common deficiencies in infants are vitamins E, K, D and C.
Vitamin E Deficiency
Vitamin E, or alpha tocopherol, is an antioxidant that protects the body's cells against damage from free radicals. Premature infants have a very low vitamin E reserve because the placenta doesn't transmit fat-soluble vitamins. Disorders that interfere with fat absorption, such as celiac disease, cystic fibrosis, obstruction of the bile ducts and Crohn's disease, can increase the risk of deficiency. Generally, a formula high in polyunsaturated fatty acids increases the vitamin E requirement. Consult with your pediatrician regarding any supplementation.
Vitamin K Deficiency
In newborns, the principal form of vitamin K deficiency is hemorrhagic disease of the newborn. It can develop because the placenta doesn't transmit fats well, the newborn's liver is too immature to produce the clotting factor prothrombin or bacteria that produce vitamin K in the intestine aren't present yet, notes the Merck Manuals website. Symptoms include bleeding into the skin, in the stomach, in the chest, and, in serious cases, in the brain. Most newborns are given an injection of vitamin K intramuscularly within one hour of birth to prevent hemorrhagic disease.
Vitamin D Deficiency
Modified in the liver and kidneys to form vitamin D hormones, vitamin D's main function is to increase calcium absorption from the intestine and facilitate normal bone formation. A deficiency, also known as rickets, is caused by either inadequate exposure to sunlight or a lack of vitamin D in the diet, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Muscle spasms caused by a low calcium level may be the first sign of a deficit. An older infant may be slow to sit and crawl, and the closing of the fontanelles, or the spaces between the skull bones, may be delayed. Rickets can be stopped by administering vitamin D supplements, but this will not correct the damage already done.
Infantile Scurvy
Scurvy in infants results from inadequate intake of vitamin C, usually occurring when cow's milk formulas are the primary source of nutrition. It manifests between 6 and 12 months of age. Infants may have pain caused by bleeding under the thin layer of tissue covering the bones. Since vitamin C is needed for the formation of connective tissue, scurvy may cause bone abnormalities and pain in the rib cage or long bones of the leg. Formula-fed babies need at least 35 milligrams of vitamin C daily, equivalent to 3 ounces of orange or lemon juice. A breastfeeding mother might need to take vitamin C daily to ensure she and her baby receive enough of the vitamin, if dietary intake is lacking.
References
- Baby Vitamins: Infant Vitamins - Should I Be Using Infant Vitamins?
- Linus Pauling Institute: Vitamin C
- Newborn Nursery at LPCH, Stanford School of Medicine: Guidelines for Vitamin K Prophylaxis
- The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals: Vitamin K
- American Academy of Pediatrics: Vitamin D Deficiency Clinical Report: Patient FAQs
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