Vitamin D recommendations by accredited medical associations provide guidance on daily Vitamin D intake.
Vitamin D Recommendations for Children
How much vitamin D should you give your child? There is no easy answer because nobody really knows how much vitamin D humans really require. Making sure that you and your family members have enough vitamin D is often an individualized approach and depends on a number of factors, including the time spent outdoors in summer sunshine, the types of food in the diet, and other factors. Healthcare professionals are recognizing that approximately 60% of children have insufficient levels of vitamin D . Based on scientific data, various medical associations have provided some guidelines. This website cannot make or endorse any recommendations. The best advice and answers come from your physician or other healthcare professional. Your physician may make specific recommendations based on risk factors. The recommendations are summarized below.
| Group Making Recommendation | Recommended for | Recommended Daily vitamin D3 Intake per day |
| Canadian Pediatric Society2; Health Canada2; American Academy of Pediatrics2 | Breastfed Infants | 400 IU |
| Canadian Peditatric Society5 | High risk groups, including breastfed infants in Canada's north (>55°N latitude) | 800 IU |
| American Academy of Pediatrics7 | Partially breastfed infants and formula fed infants who are ingesting <1000 mL of fortified formula/day | 400 IU |
| American Academy of Pediatrics7 | Children and adolescents | 400 IU |
| Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine | Infants, children, adolescents, adults up to age 50 | 200 IU |
Talk to you healthcare practitioner to understand what is right for your children!
1Kumar, J. et al. Prevalence and Associations of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Deficiency in US Children: NHANES 2001–2004, Published online August 3, 2009
2Vitamin D supplementation: Recommendations for Canadian Mothers and Infants. Canadian Pediatric Society 2007 http://www.cps.ca/english/statements/ii/fnim07-01.htm
3Vitamin D Supplementation for Breastfed infants; 2004 Health Canada Recommendation http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/nutrition/child-enfant/infant-nourisson/excl_bf_dur-dur_am_excl-eng.php
4Wagner, Carol L et. al. Prevention of Rickets and Vitamin D Deficiency in Infants, Children and Adolescents Paediatrics 2008; vol. 122 No. 5 p. 1142-1152
5Vitamin D supplementation: Recommendations for Canadian Mothers and Infants. Canadian Pediatric Society 2007 http://www.cps.ca/english/statements/ii/fnim07-01.htm
6Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI) Recommended Intakes for Individuals, Vitamins. Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine 2004. http://www.iom.edu/Object.File/Master/21/372/0.pdf
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