Find Your Local Dairy Council®

Please select your state:

States: AK AL AR AZ CA CO CT DC DE FL GA HI IA ID IL IN KS KY LA MA MD ME MI MN MO MS MT NC ND NE NH NJ NM NV NY OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VA VT WA WI WV WY

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released a clinical report on October 13, 2008, "Prevention of Rickets and Vitamin D Deficiency in Infants, Children, and Adolescents," that doubles the amount of vitamin D the AAP recommends for infants, children, and adolescents to 400 IU per day. The recommendations were revised based on new clinical trials and past recommendations that 400 IU of vitamin D per day can safely be given to children to prevent rickets and may provide additional health benefits. In addition to the prevention of rickets, "New evidence supports a potential role for vitamin D in maintaining innate immunity and preventing diseases such as diabetes and cancer," the report states. This statement replaces a 2003 clinical report from AAP, which recommended a daily intake of 200 IU/day for all infants (beginning in the first two months of life), children, and adolescents. The new recommended daily intake of 400 IU of vitamin D is for all infants, children, and adolescents, beginning in the first few days of life. According to the report:

• Babies that are exclusively or partially breastfed should receive a vitamin D supplement until they are drinking at least 32 ounces of formula per day. All infant formula sold in the United States is fortified with at least 400 IU/L of vitamin D.
• Children one year of age and older who are not consuming 400 IU of vitamin D from foods, such as vitamin D fortified milk (voluntarily fortified at 400 IU per quart), should receive supplementation.

To read the full report, visit www.aap.org/new/VitaminDreport.pdf. [Wagner CL, Greer FR, and the Section on Breastfeeding and Committee on Nutrition, Clinical Report: Prevention of rickets and vitamin D deficiency in infants, children, and adolescents, Pediatrics, 122(5): 1142-1152, 2008]