Daily D
According to a recent announcement by the American Academy of Pediatrics, children should get 400 IUs of vitamin D per day, and supplementation should begin a few days after birth. That’s double the previously recommended amount of D and an earlier start date for supplementing. Why the change? Studies show that the new daily allowance can prevent rickets, a bone softening disorder that particularly affects breastfed babies, caused by inadequate amounts of vitamin D. Rickets is rare in the United States, but there are so many benefits for kids that come from D that it’s a no-brainer: Studies show that the vitamin also helps reduce the risk of osteoporosis in adulthood and helps to prevent infections, autoimmune diseases, diabetes, and cancer.
