Vitamin D Supplementation Guidelines for Youngsters Doubled

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Vitamin D, according to Greer, is not actually a vitamin at all but a hormone. "It acts directly on cells to promote gene transcription," he explained. "No other 'vitamin' does this, so it really is very, very powerful."

Vitamin D deficiency is common among all age groups across the globe.

The main source of vitamin D is sunlight but experts now urge everyone to stay out of the sun or, at the very least, to wear sunscreen and protective clothing while outside.

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Vitamin D is not plentiful in most foods, with the exception of fatty fish, certain fish oils, liver and egg yolks of chickens fed vitamin D.

"We know 400 IU a day is safe and prevents rickets," Greer said. "We don't have any idea if that amount of vitamin D is enough for other diseases. We also don't know if anything over 400 is safe."

Here are the AAP's recommendations:

• Infants who are breast-fed or partially breast-fed receive 400 IU a day of vitamin D in supplements, beginning in the first few days of life. Many mothers are deficient in the vitamin and pass this on to their newborns. Supplementation should be continued unless the infant starts taking at least one quart a day of vitamin D-fortified formula or whole milk, although whole milk should not be introduced until the child has turned 1. Many children, including those with a family history of obesity, should only be drinking low-fat milk.
• Non-breast-fed children and older children should also receive a vitamin D supplement of 400 IU/day.
• Children at increased risk of vitamin D deficiency (for example, those taking anti-seizure medications) may need higher doses, but this should only be done in consultation with a health-care professional.

More information

The Office of Dietary Supplements has more on vitamin D.

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