Can vitamin D supplementation in infancy prevent type 1 diabetes?
Several recent European studies suggested that supplementing infants with vitamin D during their first year might prevent type 1 diabetes. A dose of 50 microg/day was associated with decreased diabetes risk in Finland, but the effectiveness of lower doses was not examined. The recommended dietary intake of vitamin D for U.S. infants is 5 microg/day and the tolerable upper level is 25 microg/day. There is no evidence that intakes between 5 and 25 microg/day would reduce diabetes incidence, but it would seem prudent to ensure that infants reach at least the lower end of this range.
Harris
Susan
S
Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111, USA.
D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D014807:Vitamin D