Vitamin D Supplementation

In 2010, the Health Service Executive (HSE) issued guidelines relating to supplementation of all babies with Vitamin D₃ from birth to one year of age.

Vitamin D₃ is essential for your baby’s growth and development. It is required to aid the absorption of calcium, a mineral which is essential for your babies growing bones and teeth. It is recommended that all babies, from birth to 12 months, whether breastfed or bottlefed, be given a daily supplement of 5 μg vitamin D₃. This should be provided by a supplement containing vitamin D₃ exclusively and not part of a multivitamin.

The reason why supplementation of Vitamin D₃ is so important is that Vitamin D₃ is not readily obtained in the diet. Vitamin D₃ is the sunshine vitamin. It is synthesised in the skin from the sun. Sunlight is the best source of Vitamin D₃. In Ireland, during the months of October to March in particular, we do not get an adequate amount of sunshine to synthesis the level of vitamin D₃ needed, so supplementation of this essential vitamin in addition to the diet is required. Dietary sources of Vitamin D₃ include, oily fish, eggs and fortified foods e.g. cereals, although sunlight is the best source.

Vitamin D₃ supplements are widely available in pharmacies and some large supermarkets without a prescription. It is very important that you read the packet instructions carefully. If you forget to give your baby its daily vitamin D₃, start again the next day, do not give your baby more than one dose per day. Ask your doctor, public health nurse or pharmacist for more advice.