School is in session and the weather is getting cooler. Are your kids getting enough Vitamin D? Probably not. Vitamin D is a product that our bodies make when we are exposed to sunlight. In Minnesota, July and August are the only months that we get enough sunlight, based on our latitude. Additionally, people with dark skin or use sunscreen faithfully do not get enough Vitamin D from sun exposure.
Why is Vitamin D important? Vitamin D is essential for the formation and maintenance of strong bones. Vitamin D may also strengthen our immune system and may help in prevention of Diabetes, Multiple Sclerosis, Inflammatory Bowel Disease and some cancers.
How much do I need? Current recommendations are 400 IU (“International Units”) per day for infants, children and adults. South Lake Pediatrics recommends that all children and adolescents take a Vitamin D supplement of at least 400IU per day. Most multivitamins will have this amount of Vitamin D. There are also infant drops of just Vitamin D; it is important to read the label for directions as some products call for ONE DROP and others a full dropper full.
What about breastfed babies? Unfortunately, most moms do not get enough Vitamin D into their own bodies to be able to pass on enough to their infant though breast milk even if they are taking extra Vitamin D themselves.