Are You Choosing the Right Vitamin D3 Supplement for Your Child?

Vitamin D is essential to your child’s good health and can be found in foods such as fatty fish, fortified milk, and orange juice. As well, the body produces vitamin D naturally when the skin is exposed to the sun. However, if your child doesn’t get ample sun exposure and happens to not consume foods that contain ample amount of the vitamin, a deficiency can occur. In these cases, a vitamin D3 supplement may be beneficial.

Vitamin D3 Recommended Daily Allowance
Child health experts do not all see eye-to-eye when it comes to what a child should be receiving each day. However, most recommended amounts range from 200 IUs per day for infants up to 2,000 for active adolescents and adults. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, infants should receive a minimum intake of 200 IU of vitamin D either in their diet or via a D3 supplement, and older children should consume 400 IUs.

The Benefits of a Vitamin D3 Supplement
Vitamin D is vital for the absorption of calcium. Without it, growing bones become brittle and prone to breaks and structural change. This essential vitamin also helps support a healthy immune system and reduces the chance of your child developing multiple sclerosis and some types of cancer.

Risks of Supplementation
It is possible to overdose on vitamin D3 because it is stored in the fat in the body. Symptoms of an overdose include nausea, vomiting, a metallic taste in the mouth, loss of appetite, headache, and fatigue.
  
To ensure that your child obtains enough, but not too much vitamin D3, it’s wise to choose a vitamin D3 supplement designed for children and not adults. Animal Parade Vitamin D3 500 IU Children’s Chewable, for example, has the right dosage of the vitamin in a bioavailable active form that supports optimal growth and long-term health.