November 22, 2002 – Rickets, an old disease that was believed to have been eradicated in the early 20th centurye century, seems to be making an unexpected comeback in recent years across the world. The main suspect: vitamin D and calcium deficiency, especially in breast-fed children.
A study by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)1confirmed the phenomenon in April 2002. According to its author, the situation is serious and could lead governments to recommend vitamin D supplementation to breast-fed children so that their bodies can better absorb calcium.
THE’American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recently followed up on this study. In an advisory, she advises pediatricians of the need to give exclusively breastfed children 200 IU of vitamin D per day. The international league of LaLeche, a pro-breastfeeding group, does not intend to oppose this recommendation.
Exposure to the sun – the other major source of vitamin D that typically provides 80 to 90% of enough intake – no longer meets their needs, according to the AAP. In fact, in recent years, it has been recommended that parents protect children from the sun with sunscreen or keep them in the shade to prevent sunburn and possible skin cancer.
Vitamin D supplementation is especially recommended for black babies who are often severely deficient because their skin type blocks the absorption of the vitamin from the sun. Plus, black babies at the stage in utero receive less vitamin D from the mother. It is the same after their birth with breast milk. Thus, about 42% of black women have an insufficient level of vitamin D during their reproductive period compared to 4% for white women.
Children with rickets suffer from weakened muscles and later from stunted growth and impaired development of motor functions. They may be afflicted with a deformity called genu varum2 which is characterized by arched legs.
At home, Health Canada3 recommends giving a vitamin D supplement to all breastfed babies from birth until the diet provides a source of vitamin D.
Stéphane Gagné – PasseportSanté.net
According to Intelihealth, October 21, 2002.
1. Abrams SA. Nutritional rickets: an old disease returns. Nutr Rev 2002 Apr; 60 (4): 111-5.
2. Biser-Rohrbaugh A, Hadley-Miller N. Vitamin d deficiency in breast-fed toddlers. J Pediatr Orthop 2001 Jul-Aug; 21 (4): 508-11.
3. This information is taken from the document Nutrition for Healthy Term Infants, Health Canada, 1998. http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hppb/enfance-jeunesse/cyfh/pdf/infant-e.pdf