Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 19, 2026

Quantitative Analysis of Dietary Vitamin A Metabolites in Murine Ocular and Non-Ocular Tissues Using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography
05:03

Quantitative Analysis of Dietary Vitamin A Metabolites in Murine Ocular and Non-Ocular Tissues Using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography

Published on: December 27, 2024

Vitamins

Bryon Lauer1, Nancy Spector

  • 1Drexel University College of Medicine, St Christopher's Hospital for Children, Philadelphia, PA, USA.

Pediatrics in Review
|August 3, 2012
PubMed

Insights

All infants need 400 IU/day of vitamin D from birth to prevent deficiency and rickets. Newborns require 1 mg of vitamin K at birth, and women of childbearing age should supplement folate to prevent neural tube defects.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Neonatology
  • Obstetrics

Background:

  • Vitamin D deficiency and rickets are preventable in infants.
  • Vitamin K deficiency bleeding is a serious risk for newborns.
  • Neural tube defects can be reduced with adequate folate intake.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To outline evidence-based recommendations for vitamin D supplementation in infants and children.
  • To establish guidelines for vitamin K prophylaxis in newborns.
  • To emphasize the importance of folate supplementation for women of childbearing age.

Main Methods:

  • Review of strong research evidence supporting supplementation guidelines.
  • Analysis of data on the efficacy of vitamin D, vitamin K, and folate.
  • Synthesis of recommendations for pediatric and prenatal nutrition.

Main Results:

  • Infants require 400 IU/day of vitamin D from the first days of life.
  • Children and adolescents over 1 year may need up to 600 IU/day of vitamin D.
  • Newborns should receive 1 mg of vitamin K at birth.
  • Folate supplementation is recommended for preconceptional and pregnant women.

Conclusions:

  • Routine vitamin D supplementation is crucial for preventing rickets in infants.
  • Vitamin K prophylaxis at birth is essential for preventing bleeding disorders.
  • Folate supplementation significantly reduces the risk of neural tube defects.

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