Breastfed infants may need vitamin D supplements

Karla Gale, "Breastfed infants may need vitamin D supplements", Reuters
UK, August 7, 2006,
Link:
http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/arti...archived=False

Breastfed babies living in northern latitudes often lack healthy levels
of vitamin D, and may even be severely deficient, results of a new
study suggest.

"In northern latitudes, such as that in Iowa (41 degrees North),
sunshine is too diminished in the winter for the infants to generate
enough vitamin D on their own," lead author Dr. Ekhard E. Ziegler told
Reuters Health.

Ziegler, from the University of Iowa in Iowa City, and his team
analyzed blood samples from 84 infants when they were about 9 months
old. Forty-nine received vitamin D, either from formula or supplements,
while 35 were breastfed and received no supplements.

Eight breastfed infants were considered to be deficient, defined as
having blood levels of the active metabolite of vitamin D --
25-hydroxyvitamin D -- (25-OHD) of less than 11 nanograms per
milliliter. Two of these infants were considered to be severely
deficient, with levels below 5 nanograms per milliliter.

More infants were vitamin D deficient during winter (37 percent) than
during summer (2 percent), and more dark-skinned than light-skinned
infants were deficient (43 percent versus 6 percent).

According to their report in the journal Pediatrics, the investigators
conducted another analysis of breastfed babies from ages 4 to 15
months. The results suggest that the deficiency is less prevalent as
babies get older.

How did this high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency come about in a
developed country? According to Ziegler, "at the beginning of the last
century, it was standard practice to give infants a teaspoon of cod
liver oil, which averages about 440 IU of 25-OHD per day." When the use
of baby formula became popular, enough vitamin D was added to the
formula to prevent deficiency.

"Then since the 1970s," he explained, "women returned to breast
feeding, but they never resumed the practice of giving their babies any
dietary supplements."

Currently the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends vitamin D
supplements of 200 IU per day for breastfed infants. "But they also
include the proviso that supplements may not be required if there is
adequate exposure to sunshine," Ziegler added, "which they fail to
define."

So his advice is to give vitamin D supplements to breastfed infants
living in northern latitudes, "at least in winter, which lasts from
November to May here in Iowa."

SOURCE: Pediatrics, August 2006.

This is an intersting study, but it is not new news, and it also
can be used to support the notion of universal supplementation with
various vitamins, which I don't think is necessary. I think it should
be read with a critical eye.

Note that I am not saying to avoid supplementation altogether, I just
think it does not justify UNIVERSAL supplementation.

Larry

In misc.kids.pregnancy Roman Bystrianyk wrote:
: Karla Gale, "Breastfed infants may need vitamin D supplements", Reuters
: UK, August 7, 2006,
: Link:
: http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/arti...archived=False

: Breastfed babies living in northern latitudes often lack healthy levels
: of vitamin D, and may even be severely deficient, results of a new
: study suggest.

: "In northern latitudes, such as that in Iowa (41 degrees North),
: sunshine is too diminished in the winter for the infants to generate
: enough vitamin D on their own," lead author Dr. Ekhard E. Ziegler told
: Reuters Health.

: Ziegler, from the University of Iowa in Iowa City, and his team
: analyzed blood samples from 84 infants when they were about 9 months
: old. Forty-nine received vitamin D, either from formula or supplements,
: while 35 were breastfed and received no supplements.

: Eight breastfed infants were considered to be deficient, defined as
: having blood levels of the active metabolite of vitamin D --
: 25-hydroxyvitamin D -- (25-OHD) of less than 11 nanograms per
: milliliter. Two of these infants were considered to be severely
: deficient, with levels below 5 nanograms per milliliter.

: More infants were vitamin D deficient during winter (37 percent) than
: during summer (2 percent), and more dark-skinned than light-skinned
: infants were deficient (43 percent versus 6 percent).

: According to their report in the journal Pediatrics, the investigators
: conducted another analysis of breastfed babies from ages 4 to 15
: months. The results suggest that the deficiency is less prevalent as
: babies get older.

: How did this high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency come about in a
: developed country? According to Ziegler, "at the beginning of the last
: century, it was standard practice to give infants a teaspoon of cod
: liver oil, which averages about 440 IU of 25-OHD per day." When the use
: of baby formula became popular, enough vitamin D was added to the
: formula to prevent deficiency.

: "Then since the 1970s," he explained, "women returned to breast
: feeding, but they never resumed the practice of giving their babies any
: dietary supplements."

: Currently the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends vitamin D
: supplements of 200 IU per day for breastfed infants. "But they also
: include the proviso that supplements may not be required if there is
: adequate exposure to sunshine," Ziegler added, "which they fail to
: define."

: So his advice is to give vitamin D supplements to breastfed infants
: living in northern latitudes, "at least in winter, which lasts from
: November to May here in Iowa."

: SOURCE: Pediatrics, August 2006.