Vitamin D Infection & nutrition quotes
http://www.naturalnews.com/029341_vitamin_D_infants.html
(NaturalNews) Two studies published in the journal Pediatrics
highlight that although vitamin D deficiency is widespread among infants in the
United States, most pediatricians remain unaware of the problem.
The first study, conducted by researchers from the U.S. Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC), found that only 5 to 13 percent of breast-fed
infants were receiving at least 400 IU of vitamin D per day, the amount
currently recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Human
breast milk is
actually relatively low in vitamin D, probably because during our evolutionary
history most babies got plenty of exposure to sunlight.
Although formula-fed infants
were not included in the study, researchers noted that an infant would need to
drink 32 ounces of fortified formula per day to get 400 IU of vitamin D, an
amount that is probably unrealistic for young children.
The body produces vitamin D when exposed to UV-B radiation from sunlight. The
nutrient is essential for the development and maintenance of
bones and the immune system,
and deficiency can
increase the risk of soft or brittle bones, infection, cancer, heart
disease and autoimmune
disorders. Yet the
American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that infants get no direct
sunlight at all for the first six months of life, and that they wear protective
clothing and sunscreen beyond that age - effectively ruling out the healthiest,
most reliable source of this essential nutrient.
Making matters worse, according to the CDC study, only 1 to 13 percent of
children under the age of one take a vitamin D supplement.
A second study in the same issue found a lower (but still high) rate of
vitamin D
deficiency, with 58 percent of newborns and 36 percent of
mothers testing deficient.
A full 30 percent of mothers who took prenatal vitamins were still deficient in
vitamin D.
Although increased sun exposure improved mothers' vitamin D levels, it did not
raise those of their infants. This further suggests that breast milk is a poor
source of vitamin D and that infants need to be exposed to sunlight directly in
order to synthesize the vitamin for themselves.
Sources for this story include:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health....