Babies who take 400 IU of supplemental vitamin D per day for the first year of life have less fat and more muscle.
The fight against overweight begins very early. The feeding of the little ones must be monitored, as well as their vitamin intake. While it has been known for a long time that supplementation with vitamin D contributes to good bone density, it seems that it also allows for better weight gain.
In a article published in Pediatric Obesity, researchers at McGill University in Montreal (Canada) showed that babies who took 400 IU per day between 1 and 12 months had an average of 450 grams of fat less at three years.
They used data from a 2013 study of 132 children in Montreal, who received a daily vitamin D3 supplement, in multiple doses. Originally, Canadian scientists wanted to see the amount needed to achieve optimal bone density. But when they performed full scans of children at age three, they also found, unexpectedly, that supplemented babies were more muscular and less fat.
Compensate for the lack of sun
“We knew vitamin D helped build stronger bones, but we didn’t know it helped produce more healthy muscle, and less fat,” says Hope Wailer, study author and director of the center. of Nutrition Research at McGill University.
Vitamin D is in principle available in food (especially in fish), and synthesized in the skin during exposure to the sun. But babies under one year old do not benefit from natural nutritional benefits, and are systematically protected from the rays. External intake is therefore strongly recommended for the development of strong bones, especially during the long winter months.
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