Most babies need a vitamin D supplement

Parents, get ready for another change.

New research suggests that almost all babies need a vitamin D supplement. According to a study in March published online in Pediatrics, only 5% to 37% of U.S. infants under age 1 meet the standard for vitamin D set by the American Academy of Pediatrics in 2008: 400 international units a day. Only 1% to 13% of infants under age 1 get a vitamin D supplement today, the study says.

Because breast milk is naturally low in vitamin D, the academy suggested in 2008 that babies fed only breast milk get a daily supplement, which is available over the counter in inexpensive drops.

But many formula-fed babies also fail to get enough vitamin D, says study author Cria Perrine of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Babies have to consume about 32 ounces of vitamin D-fortified formula to get the recommended dose; those under 6 months old are unlikely to consume that much.

Vitamin D not only strengthens bone, it may boost the immune system and help reduce the future risk of cancer, diabetes and heart disease, research shows.