Intake of vitamin D by Finnish children aged 3 months to 3 years in relation to sociodemographic factors.
OBJECTIVE
To study the total daily intake of vitamin D from food and supplements among Finnish children aged 3 months to 3 years, the dietary sources of vitamin D and the association between vitamin D intake and sociodemographic factors.


METHODS
The subjects are participants in the Finnish Type I Diabetes Prediction and Prevention Nutrition Study born between October 1997 and October 1998. At the age of 3 and 6 months, 1, 2 and 3 years, 342 (72% of the invited families), 298 (63%), 267 (56%), 233 (49%) and 209 (44%) families, respectively, participated in the present study. Food consumption was assessed by a 3-day food record. A structured questionnaire was used to record the parents' socioeconomic status.


RESULTS
The mean dietary vitamin D intake exceeded the recommendation (10 microg/day) at the age of 3 (11.0 microg) and 6 months (12.0 microg), but decreased thereafter being 9.8, 5.0 and 4.1 microg at 1, 2 and 3 years of age, respectively. Among the children 91, 91, 81, 42 and 26% used vitamin D supplements at the age of 3 and 6 months, and 1, 2 and 3 years, respectively. In children not using vitamin D supplements, vitamin D intake was less than 10 microg/day at all ages. Vitamin D intake from food did not differ in children who used and did not use vitamin D supplements. Vitamin D supplements were the main source of vitamin D intake in all age groups studied, followed by vitamin D-fortified infant formula in 3-month-olds and infant formula and baby foods in 6-month-olds. After the age of 1 year, the most important food sources of vitamin D were margarine, fish, baby foods, low-fat milk and eggs. Sociodemographic factors, especially the number of children in the family and maternal age, were associated with the total vitamin D intake and vitamin D supplement use.


CONCLUSIONS
Vitamin D supplements are not used according to the dietary recommendations in a substantial proportion of Finnish children.
Räsänen
M
M
Tampere School of Public Health, University of Tampere, Finland.
Kronberg-Kippilä
C
C
Ahonen
S
S
Uusitalo
L
L
Kautiainen
S
S
Erkkola
M
M
Veijola
R
R
Knip
M
M
Kaila
M
M
Virtanen
S M
SM
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000517:prevention & control; D004032:Diet; D015930:Diet Records; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004522:Educational Status; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008423:Maternal Age; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D012923:Social Class; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D014807:Vitamin D