This implies that babies born to mothers with vitamin D deficiency are very likely to develop vitamin D deficiency unless supplemented from outside or adequately exposed to sunlight which is often not practical during early infancy. Vitamin D in breast milk relates to mothers’ vitamin D intake, skin pigmentation and sunlight exposure 3.
Breast milk concentration of vitamin D is low (<20 IU/l) and is inadequate for the needs of the growing infant 2. During the first 6-8 wk of life, the vitamin D status of infants is determined by the vitamin D levels at birth, which depend on the vitamin D status of the mother 1. Vitamin D is the essential precursor of 1, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, the steroid hormone required for calcium absorption, bone development and growth in children.
