June 25, 2008

1 Min Read
Increasing Vitamin D levels is essential for children

Giving your children only 200 International Units (IUs) of vitamin D isn’t nearly enough, says a report in The Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. Although the American Academy of Pediatrics currently recommends that children take 200 IUs of Vitamin D a day, a new study suggests that increasing that number to 2000 IUs could improve bone development and contribute to other long-term health benefits.

The study conducted an eight-week trial and a year-long trial by providing children between the ages of 10 and 17 with Vitamin D3 supplementation. Not only was the level of vitamin D harmless but essential 25-OHD levels- an active form of the vitamin in blood- were reached. Ghada El-Haff Fuleihan, of the American University of Beirut-Medical Center lead the study and said that their research “reveals that vitamin D, at doses equivalent to 2000 IUs a day is not only safe for adolescents, but is actually necessary for achieving desirable vitamin D levels.”

Children’s speedy bone growth requires them to maintain high levels of vitamin D. Exposing skin to sunlight is the best way to increase vitamin D levels but experts recommend sun exposure only in moderation.

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