Detailed instructions for vitamin D supplementation for infants

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted by Dr. Le Thi Hong Anh - Pediatrician - Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology, Vinmec Central Park International General Hospital.
Vitamin D for infants can be obtained through breast milk and other milks. In addition, sun exposure also helps the child's body to produce a certain amount of vitamin D to make up for the deficiency.

1. Why do babies need vitamin D supplements?

Vitamin D plays an important role in the development of bones and teeth. Vitamin D deficiency easily leads to rickets, malnutrition, increases the risk of respiratory infections and type 1 diabetes in children. According to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), only 1 in 5 formula-fed babies and 1 in 20 breastfed babies get enough vitamin D in their diets every day. recommended days.
In 2008, the American Academy of Pediatrics suggested doubling the recommended amount of vitamin D for infants and children from 200 to 400 international units (IU) per day. However, according to CDC estimates, only 5-13% of breastfed infants and 20-37% of formula-fed infants meet the new recommended intake levels.
In fact, vitamin D supplementation for infants is often overlooked by parents, even with exclusively breastfed babies. If only breast milk is used, the risk of the infant developing vitamin D deficiency is very high. Therefore, it is necessary to supplement vitamin D for children from many different sources.

2. Supplemental sources of vitamin D for babies

Sources of vitamin D for infants are breast milk and formula. However, breast milk and some formulas do not contain enough vitamin D for babies. Therefore, infants, especially those who are exclusively breastfed, need continuous vitamin D supplementation until the age of weaning. During the baby's weaning period, vitamin D will be provided through foods such as juice, yogurt, cheese, cereals, tofu... necessary for the child, the doctor may consider it because the child uses synthetic or drops containing vitamin D.
On the other hand, the human body is also capable of producing vitamin D on its own when exposed to light. sunlight, specifically ultraviolet B (UBV). However, children under 6 months of age should wear more protective clothing, avoid sun exposure for too long and should use sunscreen when going out to avoid the risk of burns, because at this stage the baby's skin is still young and very sensitive to heat effects.

3. Instructions on how to supplement vitamin D for children

How much vitamin D supplementation for infants depends on whether the baby is breastfeeding, drinking formula or drinking other types of milk such as cow's milk, goat's milk, specifically as follows:
If the mother If you're breastfeeding or are only partially breast-feeding, give your baby 400 international units of vitamin D (400 IU) a day, starting soon after birth. After that, continue giving your baby vitamin D until the weaning stage. From now on, it is recommended to give your baby about 1 liter of formula per day or whole cow's milk (for babies after 12 months). If your baby is drinking vitamin D-fortified formula but cannot get the full 1 liter per day, parents should give her 400 IU of liquid vitamin D at regular intervals, starting in the first few days after birth. Then continue to give vitamin D to the infant until the baby can drink about 1 liter of milk per day. In case you must use liquid vitamin D (drops), use it exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Carefully read the instructions for use, avoid exceeding the recommended dosage. If in doubt about the need for vitamin D supplements for children and the appropriate vitamin supply, parents should seek further professional advice from a doctor.

4. Is it okay to overdose on vitamin D?

Although vitamin D is an important nutrient throughout the development of an infant, it should only be supplemented with a moderate amount of the daily requirement. If abused too much, there is a risk that the child will be poisoned with vitamin D, causing many serious consequences such as:
Hypercalcemia, the baby refuses to breastfeed, or spits up for unknown reasons. More seriously, the baby may have calcification of blood vessels, kidney stones, damage to the cardiovascular system. Signs of fatigue, physical exhaustion, refusal to exercise, play. When parents notice these symptoms, parents need to think about the cause of an overdose of vitamin D supplements for babies and take the child to see a doctor.

5. Recommendations on the use of vitamin D supplements for infants

For the supply of this vitamin to infants and young children, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued the following recommendations:
Do not take more than 400 IU of vitamin D daily. for infants. Retain information leaflets on the use of complementary products for children so that parents or caregivers can make proper dosing according to instructions. Use only the dosing dropper that comes with the product and is made specifically for the product. Do not use the dropper from another product or for another purpose. Make sure the dropper is marked with dosing so that the units of measure are large and easy to understand. Make sure that these units correspond to those mentioned in the instructions and in your doctor's prescription. If you cannot determine the exact dose to take, ask your doctor or pharmacist for detailed instructions. If your baby is already on a nutritious diet or has been on formula for a while, talk to your doctor before deciding to use an infant vitamin D supplement. In all cases, parents need to absolutely follow the treatment instructions of the doctor and the instructions for taking the medicine from the manufacturer. In addition, during pregnancy, it is best for pregnant women to supplement with the necessary amount of vitamin D to prevent the baby from being born with too low a vitamin D level in the body. If you are still confused and do not understand how it is reasonable to supplement vitamin D for your baby, you can ask for advice and advice from nutritionists at reputable medical facilities.
Besides vitamin D, children need to provide enough elemental zinc/day for them to eat well, reach the correct height and weight and exceed the standard. Zinc plays a role in affecting most biological processes taking place in the body, especially the breakdown of nucleic acids, proteins... Organs in the body when zinc deficiency can lead to a There are a number of diseases such as neurological disorders, irritability, etc. Therefore, parents need to learn about the role of zinc and guide them to appropriate zinc supplements for their children.
In addition to zinc, parents also need to supplement their children with other important vitamins and minerals such as lysine, chromium, B vitamins,... errands.
Please regularly visit Vinmec.com website and update useful information to take care of your baby and family.

Articles refer to sources: Mayoclinic.com, Webmd.com, Whattoexpect.com