Growing up is a full-time job. To ensure there are no developmental deviations in a child’s growth, vitamin D plays a crucial role. Below, we present a comprehensive overview of what happens if you underestimate the necessity of vitamin D?
What is Vitamin D?
Vitamin D or cholecalciferol is a fat-soluble vitamin with widespread effects. It is often called the sunshine vitamin because vitamin D is produced in the body through the skin’s exposure to sunlight or ultraviolet radiation (UVB).
Why is Vitamin D so important?
Vitamin D affects the effective functioning of a child’s immune system, muscle strength, and calcium absorption in bones and teeth. Vitamin D also significantly impacts a child’s mental and physical development.
Why is Vitamin D so important for children?
Rickets, weak immunity, and irritability – these and many other health problems threaten your child if they do not get enough vitamin D. Vitamin D deficiency causes:
- more frequent viral illnesses
- fatigue and slower learning ability
- growth delay
- muscle weakness – the child may start standing, sitting, and walking later
- tooth development disorders and cavities
- bone formation disorders
- more frequent fractures
Vitamin D strengthens the immune system
Historically, it has been known that children who did not receive vitamin D suffered from various diseases more severely and frequently. It was quite common for a child with rickets to also suffer from severe pneumonia, often repeatedly.
Children are especially vulnerable to viral diseases during their first five years of life because their immune system is still developing. This is why upper respiratory viruses may affect toddlers 6 – 12 times a year.
In our sun-deprived climate, the easiest way to support the immune system is through vitamin D. For the immune system to function effectively, vitamin D must be consumed year-round.
Vitamin D helps increase resistance to diseases. Children with sufficient vitamin D levels are healthier and recover from illnesses faster.
Vitamin D ensures strong bones and teeth
Calcium is essential for strong bones and teeth in children. Less known is that without vitamin D, the body cannot absorb calcium. Therefore, bone strength depends not only on calcium but also on the amount of vitamin D in the body.
Rapid bone mass formation occurs most actively during early childhood, which is why it is especially important for vitamin D levels to be optimal during this period.
Vitamin D provides energy and improves focus
Kindergarten teachers and educators have long noticed that children’s fatigue and resistance to learning tend to pile up by spring. In the past, this was called spring fatigue. Just like adults, children’s fatigue is often related to a lack of vitamin D.
With vitamin D deficiency, children become irritable and nervous, which in turn causes fatigue and slower learning ability. The main reason is that the development of nerve cells and the skull is closely related to vitamin D.
Vitamin D affects physical development
If a child does not get enough vitamin D, they may develop a serious disease called rickets. As a result, the child’s bones become soft and remain soft, and changes occur in the bones. The child’s growth is stunted, and the growth plates, where normal growth typically occurs, are damaged. Without vitamin D, normal growth does not occur, and the child does not experience normal physical development.
Vitamin D participates in a child’s mental development
With vitamin D deficiency, the bones and muscles are weak, and the child’s quality of life is poor. As a result, the child’s learning ability may decline.
Is the sun enough as a source of vitamin D?
UVB radiation is very dangerous for your child. Children’s skin contains less melanin, which provides protection from sun radiation. This is why children’s skin can get sunburned quickly when exposed to direct sunlight. It is worth noting that each sunburn increases the risk of developing skin cancer later in life.
To protect your child’s skin from harmful sun radiation, dermatologists recommend using sunscreens with at least SPF 50. Know that by using sunscreen, you protect your child’s skin from both sunburn and an increase in vitamin D levels, as sunscreens block vitamin D synthesis in the skin. Therefore, the sun is not a sufficient or safe source of vitamin D.
Why are children at risk of vitamin D deficiency?
Infants and breastfed babies are at risk of vitamin D deficiency because breast milk contains limited amounts of vitamin D. Children should also avoid exposure to the sun without sunscreen or clothing, as their skin is still very delicate.
Children aged 2 – 9 are also at risk because they do not get enough vitamin D from food. According to the current guidelines from the Children’s Endocrinologists Society, it is stated that children over 2 years old should continue taking vitamin D – at least 600 IU per day.
Vitamin D intake should be closely monitored during the children’s major growth phase, between 10 – 18 years. The foundation for strong bone formation is laid during puberty, and vitamin D levels must be maintained within normal levels year-round during this period.
What is the appropriate amount of vitamin D for children?
A healthy toddler needs at least 400 IU of additional vitamin D every day, regardless of their diet or the season, because their skeleton is growing actively. As the bones grow, so do the child’s muscles, internal organs, nervous system, etc.
For normal development without deviations, your child will need increasingly larger doses of vitamin D as they grow. Therefore, for toddlers, the need for vitamin D per kilogram of body weight is up to 7 times higher than in adults.
According to the European Food Safety Authority, the safe upper limits for vitamin D intake in children are:
- for children under 1 year 1000 IU
- for children aged 1-10 years 2000 IU
- for children over 11 years 4000 IU
What is the best vitamin D for children?
The selection of children’s vitamins on pharmacy shelves is large, and choosing the right product can be challenging. Many children’s vitamins contain vitamin D, but the dose is often far below the recommended norm. Therefore, always prefer vitamin D for children in its pure form.
The best vitamin D for babies is oil-based drops, which are easy and convenient to use. As children grow, their taste preferences change, and during this period, the easiest solution is vitamin D for children in the form of candy. Don’t forget about children’s dental health, so it’s better to choose sugar-free vitamin D candies with xylitol.
If the child is able to swallow a vitamin D pearl, you can offer them vitamin D oil capsules. Most oil capsules are small and pose no risk of choking.
For children to grow up healthy and strong!
