Vitamin D3 intake has a significant impact on the growth and development of infants as well as on their long-term health. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, vitamin D3 supplementation at recommended dosages is safe for infants and may help to strengthen their immune systems and prevent diseases such as cancer and diabetes. While formula-fed infants usually consume adequate amounts of vitamin D3, breast-fed infants, as well as infants with decreased sun exposure or excessive sunscreen use, may require supplementation to meet their vitamin D3 needs.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is naturally present in a few foods. Manufacturers often fortify foods, such as milk and cheese, with vitamin D to help increase the vitamin D intake of large numbers of people. The most abundant source of vitamin D is sunlight. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), just 5 to 30 minutes of sun exposure between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. twice a week is all it takes to meet the vitamin D needs of most healthy people. The body needs vitamin D to adequately absorb and use calcium and phosphorus. Vitamin D is essential for bone and cell growth, immune function and cell differentiation, making it especially important during infancy, to help ensure adequate growth and development. Vitamin D3, also known as cholecalciferol or calcitriol, is the active form of vitamin D that is preferred by the body.
Recommended Intake
The recommended daily allowance (RDA) for vitamin D is 600 IU for healthy individuals over the age of one. This includes pregnant and lactating women. Infants under the age of one require lower amounts of vitamin D. The Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies recommends that infants consume a minimum of 400 IU of vitamin D each day. Due to insufficient data, there currently is no RDA for vitamin D in infants. Because of this, the Food and Nutrition Board set an adequate intake level, or AI, for vitamin D. According to the NIH, the AI is the amount of vitamin D required each day to ensure adequate nutrition. Both the RDA and AI for vitamin D are based on minimal levels of sun exposure.
Supplementation
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a daily intake of vitamin D of at least 400 IU for infants and children. Because breast milk is often low in vitamin D, breastfed infants may require vitamin D3 supplementation to help meet their nutrition needs. The vitamin D content of breast milk varies based on the vitamin D status of the infant's mother. A study published in "Breastfeeding Medicine" in 2006 found that mothers who consumed high doses of vitamin D3 each day met the vitamin D needs of both themselves and their breastfed infants. Study participants consumed 6400 IU of vitamin D3 daily for sx months. If you are a breastfeeding mother, discuss your vitamin D needs with a medical professional to determine a safe intake level.
Deficiency Symptoms
Signs of vitamin D3 deficiency in infants include rickets, osteomalacia, beading of the ribs, swollen joints, head enlargement, bowed legs and persistently open anterior fontanel, or soft spot. Deficiency can occur due to insufficient dietary intake, lack of sun exposure or malabsorption of vitamin D. Sunscreen blocks the absorption of vitamin D by the skin, and its use may cause vitamin D deficiency over time. Discuss sun safety guidelines as well as all dietary concerns with a medical professional to determine if you are meeting your infant's vitamin D requirements.
Safety
Vitamin D3 supplements are available for infants primarily in liquid form. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration reports a potential risk for overdose when using liquid vitamin D3 supplements. Because many supplements utilize droppers with a greater capacity than the recommended 400 IU of vitamin D3, it is important to pay close attention when measuring vitamin D3 supplements for infants. Excessive vitamin D3 intake can cause increased thirst, decreased appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, frequent urination, constipation, abdominal pain, confusion, fatigue, convulsions, irregular heartbeat, muscle pain and kidney damage. The Food and Nutrition Board sets a tolerable upper intake level of 1,000 IU for infants up to 6 months of age. Infants aged 7 to 12 months should not exceed 1,500 IU of vitamin D3 each day. Follow all instructions as well as the advice of a medical professional when administering medications or supplements to infants.
References
- American Academy of Pediatrics: Vitamin D and Your Baby
- Office of Dietary Supplements: Vitamin D
- Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine, National Academies: Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs): Recommended Dietary Allowances and Adequate Intakes, Vitamins
- "Breastfeeding Medicine: The Official Journal of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine"; High-Dose Vitamin D3 Supplementation in a Cohort of Breastfeeding Mothers and Their Infants: A 6-Month Follow-Up Pilot Study; C.L. Wagner, et al.; July 2006
- "Manual of Pediatric Nutrition," Fourth Edition; Kristy M. Hendricks, RD, MS, ScD, and Christopher Duggan, MD, MPH; 2005
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration; Infant Overdose Risk With Liquid Vitamin D; June 15, 2010
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