In a widely publicized clinical report, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) doubled its recommendation for daily intake of vitamin D for children of ages. The AAP previously recommended a daily intake of 200IU per day beginning two months after birth. The new recommendations call for 400IU per day starting within the first few days of birth.

The recommendations were made in the groups new report Prevention of Rickets and Vitamin D Defciency in Infants, Children, and Adolescents - Guidance for the Clinician in Rendering Pediatric Care. Rickets is a disease characterized by the softening and weakening of bone, and is most often caused by vitamin D deficiency. Reports of rickets have begun to increase in the Western world due to improper nutrition and decreased exposure to sunlight.

The pediatrician group cites new clinical trials on vitamin D and a long historical record of safety at 400IU in children as the reason for the increase in recommended daily intake. An AAP press release on the new report quotes co-author Dr. Frank Greer, MD, FAAP, Chair of the AAP Committee on Nutrition as saying "We are doubling the recommended amount of vitamin D children need each day because evidence has shown this could have life-long health benefits." The reports cites evidence that adequate childhood vitamin D may reduce the risk of osteoporosis later in life. According to the report, new research also suggests that vitamin D may be important to the immune system and may help prevent infections, autoimmune diseases, cancer and diabetes. Dr. Greer also stated that "supplementation is important because most children will not get enough vitamin D through diet alone.” The doctors emphasize that "breastfeeding is the best source of nutrition for infants. However, because of vitamin D deficiencies in the maternal diet, which affect the vitamin D in a mother’s milk, it is important that breastfed infants receive supplements of vitamin D.” At this time it is not known how much Vitamin D a breastfeeding mother would need to ingest to ensure adequate Vitamin D from breast milk.

The new recommendations include:

• Breastfed and partially breastfed infants should be supplemented with 400 IU per day of vitamin D beginning in the first few days of life.
• All non-breastfed infants, as well as older children who are consuming less than one quart per day of vitamin D-fortified formula or milk, should receive a vitamin D supplement of 400 IU per day.
• Adolescents who do not obtain 400 IU of vitamin D per day through foods should receive a supplement containing that amount.
• Children with increased risk of vitamin D deficiency, such as those taking certain medications, may need higher doses of vitamin D.

The AAP also now suggests that pregnant women have their plasma vitamin D Levels tested.

Our Children's Chewable Multivitamin, designed for children 4 and older, contains the recommended 400IU of vitamin D.

Learn more about the rule of Vitamin D in the body here.