American pediatrics group recommends doubling Vitamin D intake

Chicago, October 13: With mounting evidence that links vitamin D deficiency during childhood with an array of serious ailments later in life, the American Academy of Pediatrics in its latest recommendations suggested doubling the amount of vitamin D from newborn to teens.

According to the new guidelines prompted by the leading American pediatrics group, a daily intake of 400 IU of Vitamin D is called for. The advice replaces a 2003 academy recommendation for 200 units daily.

The guidelines propose vitamin D supplements for wholly breast-fed infants, partially breast-fed infants, completely weaned children and adolescents.

Interestingly, Dr. Catherine Gordon, director of the bone health program at Children's Hospital in Boston found that breast milk, the ‘perfect nutrition’ for the infant, is itself low in vitamin D. So, breast-feeding without adequate vitamin D supplements can be the key to developing vitamin D deficiency in toddlers.

While it is a well documented fact that vitamin D plays a vital role in strengthening bone and fabricating healthy teeth, the most recent works also suggest that it plays a significant role in upholding the immune systemdefine. An undermined immune system makes a person more susceptible to diseases like type 1 diabetesdefine, multiple sclerosis, cardiovascular ailments and to certain types of cancers.

Apart from the much touted supplements available in capsules, tablets, as well as in drops for young children, Vitamin D occurs naturally in oily fish and eggs. Besides these, in some countries, foods such as milk, yogurt, margarine, oil spreads, breakfast cereal and bread are now being fortified with Vitamin D to minimize the risk of Vitamin D deficiency.

Vitamin D is also characterized as the “sunshine vitamin” because of its unique quality of being produced by the body by just basking in the warm sun.

Although researchers warn against excessive sun exposure as it increases the risk of developing skin cancerdefine, making sure that at least small parts of the body, such as the hands or legs, are exposed to sunlight for about 30 minutes a day, can be a good way of acquiring vitamin D, Gordon marks.

The recommendations were released at an academy conference in Boston on Monday and will feature in the November issue of Pediatrics, the academy’s journal.