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Vitamin D: can an upper limit be defined?
1Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center, University of Tennessee, Memphis 38102.
The Journal of Nutrition
|December 1, 1989
Summary
Excessive vitamin D intake can cause hypercalcemia in infants, leading to various health issues. Current recommendations for vitamin D intake in neonates are considered safe and appropriate.
Area of Science:
- Nutrition
- Pediatrics
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Vitamin D is essential for calcium absorption and bone health.
- Excessive vitamin D intake can lead to hypercalcemia, characterized by symptoms like feeding difficulties and poor weight gain.
- Current recommendations for vitamin D intake in neonates are based on preventing rickets and ensuring safety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the necessity of establishing strict upper limits for daily vitamin D intake in healthy neonates.
- To discuss the safety and appropriateness of current vitamin D intake recommendations.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on vitamin D toxicity and rickets prevention.
- Analysis of current recommendations from the Committee on Nutrition of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Main Results:
- Daily intakes of 400 IU (10 microg) of vitamin D2 or D3 are considered safe.
- As little as 100 IU (2.5 microg) daily can prevent rickets.
- The current recommendation of 100 IU of vitamin D per 100 kcal is deemed appropriate.
Conclusions:
- There is limited justification for establishing stringent upper limits for vitamin D intake in normal neonates.
- Current vitamin D intake guidelines are considered safe and adequate for preventing deficiency and toxicity.