Vitamin D Deficiency Prevalent in Infants, vitamin d deficiency symptoms, vitamin d deficiency cause, symptoms of vitamin d deficiency, vitamin d deficiency levels, vitamin d deficiency and hair loss, deficiency vitamin d, vitamin d calcium deficiency
Last year a national analysis revealed that 20 percent of children, ages 1 to 11, are vitamin D deficient, but probably more alarming is the recent report that shows an even higher number of infants are suffering the same fate.

The recommended daily requirement of vitamin D, set forth by the American Academy of Pediatrics in 2008, is 400 International Units (IU) per day, twice the amount recommended in the past. The majority of infants are not receiving the RDA, whether breast- or bottle-fed, and even fewer are receiving vitamin D supplements.

A report released today in the online edition of the journal Pediatrics studied infants from 1 to 10.5 months in age who were exclusively breastfed, breast- and bottle-fed, and bottle-only fed. Depending upon the age of the child, 5 to 13 percent of infants who were exclusively breastfed were getting the required amount of vitamin D. Among those who were both breast- and bottle-fed, 9 to 14 percent achieved that feat, and among bottle-only infants, 20 to 37 percent met the full 400 IU recommendation.

Vitamin D is essential for bone growth and is vital during the formative infant stage. Recent studies have indicated that vitamin D could be instrumental in the prevention of infections, as well as several serious diseases including diabetes, and certain types of cancers. Previous studies have also shown that children lacking sufficient levels of vitamin D had increased levels of blood pressure and cholesterol and had a greater likelihood of being overweight.

One way for infants to get the required amount of vitamin D is through vitamin D drops or liquid multivitamins, administered daily. Another great source of vitamin D is natural sunlight. When the skin is exposed to sunlight, the body makes vitamin D. Many infants don’t spend enough time outdoors to absorb the sunlight necessary for the body to produce the vitamin. This is especially true for families who live in colder climates. In addition, the bodies of children with darker skin often do not produce enough vitamin D as their skin absorbs less sunlight.

Do not assume that breast milk or formula will provide your child with everything they need to develop. And as your child grows and matures, moving into baby food, there is still a significant risk that there will be deficiencies in their diet. Talk with your pediatrician about their nutritional needs and be aware of the alternatives and supplements to keep them on the right track for a healthy childhood.

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