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How much vitamin D does it take to pass through breast milk?

Understanding Vitamin D Transfer Through Breast Milk
Vitamin D is an essential nutrient that plays a crucial role in maintaining bone health and supporting immune function. For breastfeeding mothers, understanding how much vitamin D is transferred through breast milk is vital for ensuring that their infants receive adequate nutrition.
Vitamin D Levels in Breast Milk
Breast milk naturally contains vitamin D, but the concentration is relatively low. Typically, breast milk provides an average of 5 to 80 International Units (IU) of vitamin D per liter. This amount is generally insufficient to meet the daily vitamin D requirements of exclusively breastfed infants, which is recommended to be 400 IU daily starting from the first few days of life.
Maternal Supplementation
To enhance the vitamin D content in breast milk, maternal supplementation is key. Research indicates that when breastfeeding mothers take 6400 IU of vitamin D per day, it can significantly increase the vitamin D levels in their milk, potentially providing enough for their nursing infants without the need for additional supplementation. This approach not only ensures that the infant receives adequate vitamin D but also addresses the common deficiency seen in breastfeeding mothers.
Recommendations and Implications
The American Academy of Pediatrics and other health organizations recommend that breastfed infants receive a daily supplement of 400 IU of vitamin D, especially if the mother is not taking sufficient vitamin D herself. This supplementation is crucial because the low levels of vitamin D in breast milk can lead to deficiencies in infants, which may result in health issues such as rickets and impaired immune function.
In summary, while breast milk does contain vitamin D, the amounts are often inadequate for an infant’s needs. Maternal supplementation of around 6400 IU per day is effective in ensuring that breast milk provides sufficient vitamin D, thereby supporting the health of both mother and child.

How much is 400 IU in mL?

1 mL
Some brands of liquid vitamin D give the dose in “mL” (for example, 400 IU = 1 mL), while others give the dose in drops (for example, 400 IU = 1 drop).

How quickly does vitamin D drop?

Serum 25(OH)D, the hydroxy derivative of vitamin D and functional indicator of vitamin D status, has a reported half-life of approximately 20 to 30 d in humans; our observation that it took 3 wk for 25(OH)D concentrations (falling approximately 2 nmol/L daily) to reach a deficient state in reproductive age female mice …

Is 3 months too late to start vitamin D drops?

All children need vitamin D beginning shortly after birth. Children younger than 12 months old need 400 IU of vitamin D each day. Children 12 to 24 months old need 600 IU of vitamin D each day.

Can breastfeeding cause vitamin D deficiency in mother?

Additionally, breastfeeding women had increased odds of vitamin D deficiency (<25.0 nmol/L) compared with NPNB women.

Do breastfed babies really need vitamin D drops?

Do infants get enough vitamin D from breast milk? No. Breast milk alone does not provide infants with enough vitamin D. Shortly after birth, most breastfed infants will need an additional source of vitamin D through a supplement.

Can you absorb vitamin D through milk?

Drinking vitamin D milk increases the amount of vitamin D people get and improves levels of vitamin D in the blood ( 5 ).

What happens if you don’t take vitamin D while breastfeeding?

Vitamin D is essential to your newborn’s health. Babies who don’t get enough vitamin D can develop Rickets. Rickets is a disease that softens your bones.

How much vitamin D should I take to pass through breast milk?

6400 IU/day
Maternal vitamin D supplementation with 6400 IU/day safely supplies breast milk with adequate vitamin D to satisfy her nursing infant’s requirement and offers an alternate strategy to direct infant supplementation.’);})();(function(){window.jsl.dh(‘mYRoZ-nHA7SbwPAP_L_ayQg__23′,’

What is the fastest way to absorb vitamin D?

What helps Vitamin D absorption? Keep in mind that Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, which means it’s best absorbed in the bloodstream in the presence of dietary fat. So, if you’re taking your Vitamin D supplement at breakfast, lunch, or dinner, you can pair it with a food containing healthy fat.

What if I forgot to give my baby vitamin D drops?

How often do I give the vitamin D drops? You should give the drops once a day, every day. But, if you forget one day, it is all right. The vitamin D is stored in the baby and there will be enough in the baby’s body to prevent rickets.

Natasha Lunn

Tash is an IBCLC and Business Coach helping fellow IBCLCs create fun, profitable businesses that are more than just an expensive hobby. Before becoming an IBCLC and starting her private practice - The Boobala, Tash graduated as an Osteopath in 2008 and has been in Private Practice in South West Sydney. She was also a volunteer Breastfeeding Counsellor and Community Educator with the Australian Breastfeeding Association for 6 years. Through her business, Your Lactation Biz, Tash coaches and creates products to help new and seasoned IBCLCs build businesses that suit their personality and lifestyle.

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