Is there enough vitamin D in breast milk?

The Vitamin D Dilemma in Breast Milk
Vitamin D is crucial for the healthy development of infants, particularly for bone health, as it helps prevent conditions like rickets, which can lead to weak or deformed bones. However, a significant concern arises regarding whether breast milk alone provides sufficient vitamin D for exclusively breastfed infants.
Insufficient Levels in Breast Milk
Research indicates that breast milk typically does not contain enough vitamin D to meet the daily requirements of infants. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explicitly states that breast milk alone is inadequate for providing sufficient vitamin D to breastfed infants. This is corroborated by findings from the National Center for Biotechnology Information, which notes that even with maternal supplementation of vitamin D, the concentrations in breast milk often fall short of what is necessary for an exclusively breastfed infant.
The Role of Maternal Supplementation
To address this deficiency, maternal supplementation has emerged as a potential solution. Studies have shown that when mothers take vitamin D supplements, particularly in doses ranging from 400 to 6400 IU per day, the levels of vitamin D in their breast milk can increase significantly. This approach not only helps in elevating the vitamin D content in breast milk but also ensures that the nursing infant receives adequate amounts through breastfeeding.
Recommendations for Breastfeeding Mothers
Given the evidence, health organizations recommend that breastfeeding mothers consider vitamin D supplementation. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that breastfed infants receive a daily supplement of 400 IU of vitamin D starting shortly after birth to ensure they meet their nutritional needs. This supplementation is crucial, especially in regions with limited sunlight exposure, where natural vitamin D synthesis through the skin is compromised.
Conclusion
In summary, while breast milk is the optimal source of nutrition for infants, it generally lacks sufficient vitamin D to meet their needs. Maternal supplementation is a viable strategy to enhance the vitamin D content in breast milk, thereby supporting the health and development of breastfeeding infants. As awareness of this issue grows, it becomes increasingly important for healthcare providers to educate new mothers about the necessity of vitamin D supplementation during lactation.

How common are rickets in breastfed babies?

Nutritional rickets is not rare in the United States and Taiwan, and 70% to 90% of children with nutritional rickets are exclusively breastfed without vitamin D supplementation.

What happens if you forget to give a breastfed baby vitamin D?

Babies who do not get enough vitamin D can develop a serious disease called rickets, which is harmful to bones and growth.

What are the symptoms of low vitamin D in babies?

Most people with a vitamin D deficiency do not have any symptoms. If they do, common symptoms are muscle weakness or cramps, bone pain, feeling tired or being depressed. Vitamin D deficiency can cause babies and children to get rickets. Rickets is a disease that causes thin, weak and deformed bones.

Can breastfeeding cause deficiency?

Your risk of vitamin D deficiency increases while breastfeeding. This can affect your sleep, energy levels, and mood. Unlike other nutrients, national guidelines recommend a daily 10 mcg vitamin D supplement while breastfeeding. Vitamin B12 is important to keep your brain and nervous system healthy.

Are vitamin D drops necessary for newborns?

Babies from birth to 1 year of age who are being breastfed should be given a daily supplement containing 8.5 to 10 micrograms of vitamin D to make sure they get enough. This is whether or not you’re taking a supplement containing vitamin D yourself.

Do newborns really need 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.

What important vitamin is absent in breast milk?

Overall, human breast milk has been found to be low in certain nutrients in developed countries: vitamin D, iodine, iron, and vitamin K. Additional nutrient deficiencies have been documented in resource-poor countries: vitamin A, vitamin B 12, zinc, and vitamin B 1/thiamin.

Can babies get vitamin D from breast milk?

In 2015, a study by the American Academy of Pediatrics was released that changed my advice to moms. The results revealed that Vitamin D can be passed in healthy levels through breastmilk. The key is to have moms take enough of it.

Do infants need vitamin D drops?

Young children should still have vitamin drops, even if they get out in the sun. The Department of Health and Social Care recommends: Babies from birth to 1 year of age who are being breastfed should be given a daily supplement containing 8.5 to 10 micrograms of vitamin D to make sure they get enough.

Do babies get enough vitamin D from milk?

Breast milk is the best type of food for babies, but it does not contain much vitamin D. A baby will get their initial store of vitamin D from their mother; so, they are at risk of low vitamin D if their mother has low vitamin D and/or if they have dark skin.