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Vitamin D for children is of great importance, above all, in the proper development of the skeletal system. Vitamin D deficiency can cause a variety of illnesses in a child, including the progression of rickets. What are the natural sources of vitamin D and how to supplement it, if necessary? What do vitamin D deficiencies result in?
Vitamin D for Children – Basic Information
Vitamin D is a group of steroidal chemicals. It enters the body primarily through skin synthesis and to a lesser extent through food, such as meat and plants. The skin cells contain provitamin D, which under the influence of UVB radiation contributes to the production of cholecalciferol – cholecalciferol transforms into vitamin D3, which is necessary for the body to function properly.
Children, especially under the age of 1, need more vitamin D than adults. Vitamin D regulates the calcium-phosphate balance and increases the absorption of calcium and phosphorus in the intestines. It lowers the level of pro-inflammatory cytokines and reduces the risk of type I diabetes. Moreover, children who have enough vitamin D are more resistant.
The natural source of vitamin D is sunlight – the ingredient should be obtained primarily from the sun. Vitamin D can be produced as early as a 15-minute walk between 10 am and 15 pm or daily sun exposure with bare arms, legs and arms. The time needed to produce vitamin D depends, among other things, on from skin pigmentation, body weight and age.
It is worth noting that long-term sunbathing does not increase vitamin D synthesis and may even inhibit it.
Vitamin D for Children – Importance
The need for vitamin D among children is much higher than in adults. This dependence concerns especially children in the first years of life. Per kilogram of body weight, the vitamin D requirement of children is six times higher than that of adults. For this reason, a deficiency of the ingredient should not be allowed in the child’s body.
This vitamin, together with the supplied calcium, affects the proper development of the skeletal system. It can therefore be concluded that its presence in the child’s diet is necessary for the toddler to take his first steps. Vitamin D for children reduces the risk of infection, supports the development and function of the heart, and prevents the development of various chronic diseases in future adult life.
Vitamin D for children – dosage
Children between 6 and 12 months of age should be given 400 to 600 IU of vitamin D. Children over 1 year of age should take 600 to 800 IU. The maximum daily dose for children from 1 to 10 years of age is 2000 IU; the maximum daily dose for infants is 1000 IU per day. People between 11 and 18 years of age with vitamin D deficiency should supplement the ingredient at a dose of 800-2000 IU daily.
Virikid – Vitamin D3 400 IU Drops for Children Viridian is convenient to dose and can be purchased at a promotional price on the Medonet Market. You can also try the vitamin D spray, which is well absorbed and easy to apply. Order today DLux – Vitamin D Spray for Babies 400 IU BetterYou.
Vitamin D3 for the newborn
Vitamin D3 can be given to newborns in the form of drops, capsules or aerosols – each of the preparations is equally effective. According to the Polish Society of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology, the requirement of newborns for vitamin D is 400 IU per day. Vitamin D3 helps newborn babies build strong bones, supports the absorption of calcium and accelerates cell growth.
Babies deficient in vitamin D3 have weaker bones. As a result, it can lead to rickets and various diseases of the osteoarticular system. What’s more, vitamin D3 deficiency also increases the risk of cancer, heart disease and autoimmune diseases. Children between 13 and 36 months of age are most at risk.
According to experts, vitamin D deficiency occurs in most babies between 5 and 12 months of age. It should be added that failure to maintain the optimal concentration of the component in the blood makes the body more susceptible to cancer, asthma, inflammatory bowel disease and autoimmune diseases. For infants and older children, vitamin D is essential for the proper development of the body.
Vitamin D for Children – Natural Sources
Sea fish such as salmon, herring, mackerel, swordfish, tuna, halibut and cod are rich sources of vitamin D. However, to keep vitamin D, they should be served boiled, baked or stewed – the frying process significantly reduces the amount of it in the dish. In addition to sea fish, vitamin D is found in: eggs, milk and dairy products, liver, vegetable oils and ripened cheese.
Vitamin D for children – supplements
Vitamin D should be supplemented, especially during colder seasons. It can be taken, for example, in the form of fish oil, one capsule of which contains from 8 to 10 mcg of the ingredient. A different dose is recommended for adults, different for children, but usually about 20 mcg of vitamin D per day is enough. It is worth remembering not to supplement vitamin D simultaneously with high-fiber products and laxatives that reduce the absorption of vitamin D.
In Poland, vitamin D can be purchased without a prescription – preparations are available in daily doses of 400, 500, 800, 1000, 2000 and 4000 IU. There are also multivitamins on the market, calcium supplements, cod liver oils with vitamin D. In addition, there are food products enriched with vitamin D. A preparation that significantly improves the supply of vitamin D to the body is, for example, calcifediol.
Vitamin D3 for children 400 IU Terranova is available on Medonet Market, so you can order it conveniently and safely today. You can also buy Virikid – Vitamins and Minerals for Children Viridian – a supplement that will provide your baby with many vitamins and minerals necessary for his proper development.
Vitamin D overdose in a child
Excess vitamin D, in both children and adults, can cause nausea, headaches, diarrhea, itchy skin, and general weakness. When the body produces too much vitamin D under the influence of sunlight, the excess will be stored in adipose tissue and will be released into the bloodstream for about 2 months. Vitamin D overdose is always caused by consuming too many preparations containing it.
Symptoms of vitamin D overdose are also constipation, decreased appetite, and increased thirst. These people are more likely to urinate, which is often cloudy. Excess vitamin D causes kidney failure, excessive sweating and heart problems – vitamin D overdose causes general irritation and can delay psychophysical development in children. Moreover, it can be a threat to the baby still in the mother’s womb.
Taking too many vitamin D supplements will cause calcium from your bones to be released and build up in your skin, heart, liver, kidneys and blood vessels. For this reason, it is important to remember to use dietary supplements containing vitamin D in accordance with the dosage. Before starting supplementation, it is worth consulting a doctor to make sure that there are no contraindications for taking the preparations.
It is not possible to overdose on vitamin D provided with food. The human body is able to protect itself against its excess – its protective mechanism is melanin, i.e. the pigment contained in the skin. Particular care should be taken during vitamin D supplementation. Otherwise, vitamin D hypervitaminosis may occur – this is the condition when the concentration of vitamin D in the body exceeds 50-60 ng / ml.
Vitamin D – deficiency effects in children
People with vitamin D deficiency are often exhausted and physically exhausted. According to researchers from Rowan University, balancing vitamin D levels makes you more willing to act and not feel constantly tired. Another symptom is more frequent infections – vitamin D strengthens the immune system. Its deficiency makes it easier to catch a cold, respiratory disease and catch the flu.
A deficiency of vitamin D results in bone and back pain. Without vitamin D, the skeletal system cannot function properly because it lacks calcium and phosphorus. Also, recurrent back pain may be a symptom of a lack of vitamin D, and not as if it might appear to be the result of a sedentary lifestyle. Vitamin D deficiency is also responsible in some cases for hair loss and muscle pain.
According to experts from Harvard Medical School, vitamin D deficiency influences the development of depressive disorders. There are studies that confirm that people with less nutrient are more prone to depression, autism and schizophrenia. For this reason, vitamin D can also be used in the treatment of these diseases. Moreover, its absence slows down the wound healing process.
Dietary supplements with vitamins for children are available on Medonet Market.