Vitamin D deficiency common among U.S. infants

The amount of vitamin D consumed by most U.S. infants is below the level currently recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, especially among infants who are breast-fed, study findings suggest.

Researchers from the CDC and FDA analyzed data from the Infant Feeding Practices II study — a longitudinal survey of U.S. mothers (n=1,952-1,633) conducted from 2005 to 2007 — and approximated the percentage of infants who consumed sufficient amounts of vitamin D at ages 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.5, 9 and 10.5 months.

The surveys asked questions about infant feeding and care practices. These included the estimated number of ounces of formula, breast milk or both that the infant consumed, average number of feedings per day and vitamin D supplement use.

Results indicated that 43% of infants aged 1 month were breast-fed, 32% were mixed-fed with a combination of breast milk and formula and 26% were formula-fed. The percentage of formula use grew as age increased.

The 2008 AAP guidelines suggested an increased daily intake from the 200 IU recommended in 2003 to 400 IU. Only 5% to 13% of breast-fed infants, however, met either recommendation, data indicated.

Among mixed-fed infants, 28% to 25% met the 2003 recommendation, but the researchers noted that only 9% to 14% would have met guidelines set forth in 2008.

Formula-fed infants were more likely to meet the 2003 recommendation (81% to 98%); however, only 20% to 37% would have met the 2008 recommendation.

Most formula-fed infants met the 2008 recommendation via oral vitamin D supplements or by consuming at least 1 L/day of formula, according to the researchers.

“We found that most infants, not just those who are breast-fed, may require an oral vitamin D supplement daily, beginning within their first few days of life, to meet the 2008 AAP recommendation that infants consume at least 400 IU/day of vitamin D,” the researchers wrote.

Perrine CG. Pediatrics. 2010; 125:627-632.

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