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Vitamin D fortification of growing up milk prevents decrease of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations during
Jürgen Hower1, Anette Knoll, Kristin L Ritzenthaler
1Überörtliche Gemeinschaftspraxis für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin Standort Dümpten, Mellinghofer Straße 256, 45475, Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany, juergen.hower@googlemail.com.
European Journal of Pediatrics
|July 16, 2013
Summary
Vitamin D-fortified growing-up milk effectively prevents wintertime vitamin D level drops in German preschoolers. This safe intervention offers a viable strategy to improve children's vitamin D status.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Nutritional Science
- Public Health
Background:
- Vitamin D is crucial for human health, yet many German preschoolers have insufficient intake and low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels, particularly in winter.
- Current vitamin D recommendations are often unmet through diet and sun exposure alone in this age group.
- Vitamin D supplementation and food fortification are increasingly considered to address deficiency.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy and safety of vitamin D-fortified growing-up milk in improving vitamin D status in German preschool children.
- To determine if daily consumption of fortified growing-up milk can prevent the seasonal decline in serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations.
- To assess the safety of vitamin D fortification during summer months.
Main Methods:
- A prospective, randomized, double-blind study (KiMi trial) involving 92 children aged 2-6 years.
- Participants received either vitamin D-fortified growing-up milk (2.85 μg/100 ml) or standard semi-skimmed cow's milk.
- Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were measured before and after winter, and during summer.
Main Results:
- Children consuming fortified growing-up milk showed a prevention of the typical winter decrease in serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels.
- Post-winter levels were significantly higher in the intervention group (median 24.8 ng/mL) compared to the control group (median 13.6 ng/mL).
- The fortified milk was found to be safe, with comparable vitamin D levels in both groups during summer.
Conclusions:
- Fortification of growing-up milk with vitamin D at the studied level is an effective strategy to maintain and improve vitamin D status in preschool children.
- This approach can help counteract the common seasonal decline in vitamin D levels.
- Given the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency, fortified growing-up milk presents a practical public health measure.
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