WHO | Vitamin D Supplementation for InfantsUday S, et al. Prevention of rickets and osteomalacia in the UK: political action overdue. Archives of disease in childhood 2018; 103:901-906Vitamins for children. NHS, 2021. Available at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/baby/weaning-and-feeding/vitamins-for-children/ Accessed August 2021.Uday S, et al. Variations in infant and childhood vitamin D supplementation programmes across Europe and factors influencing adherence. Endocrine connections 2017;6:667-75Day RE, et al. We still don’t know that our children need vitamin D daily: a study of parents’ understanding of vitamin D requirements in children aged 0-2 years. BMC Public Health 2019; 19:1119NICE. Vitamin d deficiency in children. December 2016. Available at https://cks.nice.org.uk/vitamin-d-deficiency-in-children Accessed August 2021SACN_report_on_Feeding_in_the_First_Year_of_Life.pdf (publishing.service.gov.uk)Lennox A, Sommerville J, Ong K, et al. 2013. Diet and nutrition survey of infants and young children, 2011.Vitamin D Food Fact Sheet (bda.uk.com)NHS. The new guidelines on vitamin D – what you need to know. Available at: NHS: the New Guidelines on Vitamin D (accessed August 2021).

Vitamin D And Its Importance During Infancy

Overview

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin and an essential nutrient. It supports healthy bone development and vital functions such as the immune system from conception through childhood and into adulthood¹.

Vitamin D deficiency in children is a public health concern in the UK². The Department of Health and Social Care recommends that from birth to 1 year of age, breastfed babies should receive vitamin D supplements to make sure they get enough³.

What are the benefits of Vitamin D for babies?

Vitamin D is a prohormone that enters the body through a precursor in the skin, it is then transformed into its active form in the liver and kidneys. Direct sunlight exposure is the best source of natural vitamin D, it is synthesized in the skin upon exposure to sunlight containing sufficient Ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation, levels of which are higher in the summer months, around midday. This is the main source for most people. It can also be obtained from foods or vitamin D supplements.

Vitamin D is synthesised in the skin by the action of sunlight containing UBV radiation (April to September).

Vitamin D deficiency can lead to fits or rickets^4,5, dietary sources are essential when sunlight containing UVB radiation is limited (for example, during the winter months). There are specific recommendations for supplementation, these consist of vitamin D drops for babies.

People with more skin pigment absorb less UVB than those with fair skin and will need more sun exposure to produce the same amount of vitamin D⁶. To ensure a healthy status during winter months is important to take a vitamin D supplement^7-9.

What are the dietary sources of Vitamin D?

Vitamin D is found in a small number of foods such as:

Oily Fish
Organ meat, such as liver
Egg yolks
Milk
Fortified foods like breakfast cereals and fat spreads¹⁰

How much vitamin D per day is recommended for babies and children?

Babies and young children are at risk of developing vitamin D deficiency⁹. Body stores can decline by 50% over less than a month in infants, and thus without a source of vitamin D, vitamin D deficiency can rapidly develop¹.

A survey carried out in the UK reported that the major contributor to vitamin D intake from food for all age groups of children not receiving any breast milk was infant formula⁸. Infant formula was the largest contributor to vitamin D intake for those aged 4 to 6 months; 7 to 9 months and 10 to 11 months (85%, 80% and 72%, respectively) followed by the food group ‘commercial infant foods’ (12%, 12% and 10%, respectively)⁸.

A ’safe intake’ of vitamin D is recommended in the range 8.5-10 μg/d for all infants from birth up to 1 year (whatever their mode of feeding) in the UK.

Vitamin D for breastfed babies

The Department of health and Social Care recommends that babies who are being breastfed are given a daily vitamin D supplement from birth, whether the mother is taking the supplement herself or not. Vitamin D for breastfed babies: From birth to 1 year, breastfed babies should be given a daily supplement containing 8.5 to 10 micrograms (µg) of vitamin D³.

Vitamin D for formula-fed babies

Infants who are formula-fed should be given a vitamin D supplement if they're having less than 500ml (about a pint) of infant formula a day, as infant formula is fortified with vitamin D and other nutrients³.

How much vitamin D per day should be taken during toddlerhood?

Vitamin D deficiency is common in toddlerhood, 6% of infants were at risk of vitamin D deficiency as reported by the Diet and Nutrition Survey of Infants and Young Children (DNSIYC) 2013. Children aged 1 to 4 years old should be given a daily supplement containing 10µg of vitamin D^7,8.

Summary

The Department of Health and Social Care recommends³:

Babies from birth to 1 year of age who are being breastfed should be given a daily supplement containing 8.5 to 10 micrograms of vitamin D to make sure they get enough.
Babies fed infant formula should be given a vitamin D supplement if they're having less than 500ml (about a pint) of infant formula a day, as infant formula is fortified with vitamin D and other nutrients³.
Children aged 1 to 4 years old should be given a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms of vitamin D.

Educating parents and carers about the importance of vitamin D is important to help improve the supplement adherence rates in the UK.

Watch the 1-minute video below for a summary

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recommended that pregnant women and new mothers be informed on the benefits and superiority of breastfeeding – in particular the fact that it provides the best nutrition and protection from illness for babies. Mothers should be given guidance on the preparation for, and maintenance of, lactation, with special emphasis on the importance of a well-balanced diet both during pregnancy and after delivery. Unnecessary introduction of partial bottle-feeding or other foods and drinks should be discouraged since it will have a negative effect on breastfeeding. Similarly, mothers should be warned of the difficulty of reversing a decision not to breastfeed. Before advising a mother to use an infant formula, she should be advised of the social and financial implications of her decision: for example, if a baby is exclusively bottle-fed, more than one can (400 g) per week will be needed, so the family circumstances and costs should be kept in mind. Mothers should be reminded that breast milk is not only the best, but also the most economical food for babies. If a decision to use an infant formula is taken, it is important to give instructions on correct preparation methods, emphasising that unboiled water, unsterilised bottles or incorrect dilution can all lead to illness.

Frequently asked questions about vitamin D for babies

Overview

What are the benefits of Vitamin D for babies?

What are the dietary sources of Vitamin D?

How much vitamin D per day is recommended for babies and children?

Vitamin D for breastfed babies

Vitamin D for formula-fed babies

How much vitamin D per day should be taken during toddlerhood?

Summary

Watch the 1-minute video below for a summary

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

Chat

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Frequently asked questions about vitamin D for babies

Overview

What are the benefits of Vitamin D for babies?

What are the dietary sources of Vitamin D?

How much vitamin D per day is recommended for babies and children?

Vitamin D for breastfed babies

Vitamin D for formula-fed babies

How much vitamin D per day should be taken during toddlerhood?

Summary

Watch the 1-minute video below for a summary

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

ARE YOU A HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL?