American Academy of Pediatrics Increases Recommended Daily Intake of Vitamin D
October 15, 2008American Academy of Pediatrics
Increases Recommended Daily Intake of Vitamin D
In an effort to prevent rickets, a disease
causing bone softness resulting from vitamin D deficiency, the
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) increased
its recommended daily intake of vitamin D from 200 IU (international units) to
400 IU for infants, children and adolescents. The two sources of natural
vitamin D intake are sun exposure and foods, such as milk fortified with
vitamin D and oil from fatty fish. However, these limited dietary sources are
unlikely to provide enough daily Vitamin D for children and increasing exposure
to sunlight has other potential negative health effects. The AAP’s new report
points out that 400 IU of Vitamin D is safe for the pediatric population and may
provide health benefits beyond the prevention and treatment of rickets. The report recommends breastfed and primarily
breastfed infants begin receiving supplemental vitamin D in the first few days
of life, non-breastfed infants and older children who do not consume at least
one quart of vitamin D-fortified milk or formula should also receive a 400 IU
supplement each day.
To view a copy of the AAP report please visit
http://aap.org/pressroom/nce/nce08vitamind.htm