October 14, 2008

1 Min Read
Kids need more Vitamin D, says AAP

I heard yesterday on the radio that the American Academy of Pediatrics has doubled its recommended amount of vitamin D for infants through teens, from 200 units to 400 units (about 4 cups of milk daily). The "sunshine vitamin" certainly has been in the news a lot lately, and there's no doubt it's an important nutrient for a host of benefits, including reducing growing pains in kids. But am I the only one who's sort of surprised that the AAP would actually recommend vitamin D supplements for kids, even babies? Are we so sun-phobic that we wouldn't prefer simply getting enough sunshine -- 15 minutes a day or so? I know the worry is that this might increase the risk of skin cancer later in life, and that supplements are helpful for those who are housebound or who live in low-sun places like Alaska ... but I tend to think that the most obvious, natural way to get vitamin D (sunshine and foods rich in the vitamin, including fish oil) might just be the best way. Thoughts?

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