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| Getting Enough of the Sunshine Vitamin |
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The American Academy of Pediatrics recently doubled their
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recommended daily amount of vitamin D for our kids –
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and many kids weren’t getting enough even before this
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change. The more closely we look at vitamin D, the
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more we learn about how important this sunshine
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vitamin is to both short and long-term health for chil-
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dren. I’m happy to see the new level at 400 IU. A pre-
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liminary study presented at the 2008 annual meeting
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of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and
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Immunology found that children with low levels of vitamin
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D have a higher chance of asthma attacks. The results
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support other research that looks at how vitamin D might help
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prevent or reverse asthma and eczema. Other studies suggest that
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adequate vitamin D might slash the risk of diabetes as well as some cancers and
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neurologic diseases. But parents are going to have to work a little harder to meet these
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new levels, as it has become more difficult to get enough vitamin D in recent years. Kids
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are consuming less vitamin D-rich foods such as tuna (because of mercury concerns) and
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vitamin D-fortified milk...Continued. Previous articles by Dr. Greene
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Alan Greene MD, FAAP
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