Ask the Expert – Toddler Vitamin D and A Requirements

Ask The Expert is a weekly column on Littlestomaks.com. The idea is to have a reader-submitted question answered by a nutrition expert or a pediatrician. Feel free to submit your question in the comments section below.

This week, Family Physician and Registered Dietitian Dr. Shelley Meyer explains the recommended levels of vitamin D and A for a toddler.

Shelley Meyer, DO, MS, RD Education: Residency: Family Medicine, St. Anthony’s Denver, Co; Medical school: University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine; Nutrition: Masters, Georgia State University, Bachelors: University of Florida; Dietetic Internship: Grady Hospital Experience: Family Medicine Physician, Registered Dietitian Expertise: Preventive Medicine, Wellness, Integrative Medicine

Question: What is a safe level of vitamins D and A to give a 31 month child that weighs about 40 pounds?

Answer:

Vitamins A and D are fat-soluble vitamins, quite essential to children’s diets.  Vitamin D has been a particularly hot topic in the news lately, due to recent findings that a lot of Americans are deficient, including toddlers and children.  Vitamin D is needed for healthy bones, and a deficiency can cause soft, weakened bones known as rickets, and even lead to osteoporosis.  The recommended daily intake of Vitamin D for infants, toddlers and children has recently been increased from 200 IU to 400 IU.  Sunshine is needed to make Vitamin D into its active form, and little ones tend to be covered in sunscreen to protect their delicate skin, therefore explaining how potential deficiencies can occur.  However, only 10-15 minutes per day is needed to activate this essential vitamin.

It is important to remember that food sources are always better absorbed by the body than supplements.   However, if your child is a picky eater and does not drink Vitamin D fortified milk or eat foods rich in Vitamin D, such as fish and egg yolks, then it can be difficult to meet the daily requirements.  In this case, a simple daily dose of a multivitamin or a 400 IU Vitamin D supplement will suffice.

Vitamin A is generally found in abundance, as long as your child or toddler will eat fruits and vegetables.  Vitamin A is essential for healthy eyes, skin, teeth and bones.  Good sources of Vitamin A are eggs, milk, dairy, carrots, sweet potatoes, cantaloupe and dark green vegetables .   Vitamin A can be toxic in excessive amounts so it is important not to exceed the amount found in a multivitamin, generally 2500 retinol equivalent.

©2009 Littlestomaks.com. All Rights Reserved

Disclaimer – Information provided in Ask The Expert column on Littlestomaks.com is intended to give you general guidance on a question related to toddler nutrition. It is not meant to be treated as medical advice. You are welcome to contact this expert for a detailed consultation on your specific situation to determine what actions, if any, you should take regarding nutrition and health of your toddlers. We do not recommend you to take any action based solely on the information presented in this column. Experts have agreed to provide their professional opinion on toddler nutrition related questions on a voluntary basis and no compensation is offered to them by Littlestomaks.com.

Related Posts

Tagged as: Healthy Bones, Picky Eater, Sunlight, Toddler Multivitamins, Vitamin A, Vitamin D