Vitamin D Supplementation for Babies
October 24, 2008
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IFC Comments on New AAP Recommendations for Vitamin D for all Infants, Children, and Adolescents
Based on new evidence from clinical trials and the historical precedence of safety of vitamin D, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has recently issued revised recommendation that all infants, children, and adolescents have a minimum daily intake of 400 IU/day of vitamin D beginning soon after birth. This replaces the previous recommendation of a minimum daily intake of 200 IU/day, beginning in the first two months after birth and continuing through adolescence. The International Formula Council (IFC)* fully supports this new recommendation.
All infant formulas sold in the United States meet the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requirements for vitamin D content. Current formulas designed to meet the nutritional needs of full-term infants contain vitamin D that meets the new recommendation from the AAP with typical levels of formula consumption (approximately 1 quart of infant formula per day). Some specialty formulas contain more than 400 IU vitamin D per quart to address the specific nutritional needs of infants who consume these products. For non breastfed infants who ingest less than 1 quart/day of vitamin D-fortified formula as well as infants who are fed a mixture of human milk and infant formula, AAP recommends that these infants receive a vitamin D supplement to ensure adequate intake.
Parents and health care professionals can be assured that infant formula is safe and nutritious