Last Updated on March 13, 2024 by Partha Protim Choudhury
Vitamin D is an essential nutrient for calcium and bone homeostasis that promotes overall growth and development. It helps prevent rickets and skeletal deformities. Children need an adequate amount of vitamin D either through sunlight exposure or supplementation, especially if they are breastfed, as breast milk is devoid of vitamin D. Mothers can ensure maintaining adequate vitamin D status through the different developmental stages of their children by understanding the bioavailability of vitamin D.
What is vitamin D and what is its role?
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that includes vitamins D1, D2, and D3 as a family of compounds. It helps in the growth and development of the bones and teeth. It provides improved resistance to certain diseases, thereby benefiting the growth of children. Vitamin D is obtained from diet, supplements, or seasonal exposure of the skin to direct sunlight, which converts a chemical in our skin into an absorbable form of vitamin D.
What are adequate vitamin D levels in children?
All children need vitamin D beginning shortly after birth. The recommended daily amount of vitamin D is 400 IU for children up to the age of 12 months. However, children aged 12 to 24 months need 600 IU of vitamin D each day. Children will have a blood test to screen for vitamin D deficiency.
Do children get enough vitamin D from the sun?
Indian pediatricians encourage parents to expose infants to sunlight that helps in the resolution of neonatal jaundice. The dose-response relationship of vitamin D to sun exposure in children is dependent on individual and environmental factors such as type of skin pigmentation, clothing, demography, season, and time of the day.
Maternal prenatal vitamin D concentrations are a determinant of newborn vitamin D levels, but beyond 2 months, infants become dependent on other sources of vitamin D. Early infancy is therefore considered a high risk of vitamin D deficiency.
How can mothers ensure healthy vitamin D levels in their children?
Commercial infant formulas are vitamin D-fortified, as natural breast milk is considered a poor source of vitamin D.
Children who have started eating solid foods are naturally quite poor in vitamin D. Still, we can get it from fortified milk, juices, cereals, eggs, and fatty fish.
Supplemental vitamin D (either from a diet or through medicinal preparations) should ideally be given to all children.
How are vitamin D deficiency and growth related?
Vitamin D deficiency can negatively affect a child’s growth, immune response, and mental health.
In children, severe vitamin D deficiency may cause a metabolic bone disease called rickets caused by under-mineralization of the growing bone. In teens and adults, de-mineralization of bones following growth plate closure is termed ‘osteomalacia’.
How do children benefit from vitamin D?
Growing recognition of the role of Vitamin D has a direct impact on pediatric health. Vitamin D helps in the absorption of calcium and phosphorus, which are vital for the development and maintenance of strong and healthy bones, gums, and teeth in children. It is necessary for overall growth and development, including the development of the brain, heart, and lungs in the developing phase.
Adequate vitamin D levels during childhood contribute to better cognitive performance and reduce the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders.
Adequate vitamin D intake helps prevent rickets and skeletal deformities, thereby ensuring proper bone mineralization. It is important for the development of muscle function, muscle strength, and coordination for proper motor skills in children. Vitamin D supports our immune health. It helps the body fight infections and reduces the risk of illnesses such as respiratory infections, colds, and flu. It plays a role in mood regulation and reduces the risk of depression and anxiety in children.
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