They do not provide any additional evidence that larger , more generous amounts of daily vitamin D beyond the customary recommended 400 IU daily dose , affect any significant outcome .
Larger amounts may lead to serum 25 hydroxy vitamin D concentrations that have been reported to be potentially associated with adverse effects .
Summary There are still many unanswered questions left , in particular whether or not more ‘ generous ’ amounts of vitamin D in infancy may improve long-term health outcomes such as prevention of osteoporosis , allergies , or cancer
Purpose of review New evidence for recommendations for vitamin D supplementation in healthy infants based upon recent literature .
The Change in Plasma 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Did Not Differ between Breast-Fed Infants That Received a Daily Supplement of Ergocalciferol or Cholecalciferol for 3 Months1234
The biological equivalency of ergocalciferol ( D2 ) and cholecalciferol ( D3 ) has been debated ; several comparisons have appeared in the adult literature but are scarce in pediatrics . The objective of this study was to compare increases in plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D [ 25(OH)D ] concentrations and attainment of 50 and 75 mol/L status cutoffs following 3 mo of daily supplementation with D2 compared with D3 .  Healthy , breast-fed , 1-mo-old infants ( n = 52 ) received 10 μg ( 400 ic ) of either D2 or D3 daily . At 1 and 4 mo of age , plasma 25-hydroxyergocalciferol and 25-hydroxycholecalciferol concentrations were determined by liquid chromatography t and em MS ( LC-MS/MS ) and total 25(OH)D by chemiluminescent immunoassay ( DiaSorin Liaison ) . Data were analyzed using t tests and χ2 by intent to treat . A total of 23 % of infants were deficient ( ≤24.9 nmol/L ) at baseline and 2 % at follow-up on the basis of LC-MS/MS . At 4 mo , 96 % were breastfed and there were no differences in compliance , breastfeeding rates , or sun exposure among groups . The change in total 25(OH)D measured by LC-MS/MS did not differ between the D2 ( 17.6 ± 26.7 nmol/L ) and D3 ( 22.2 ± 20.2 nmol/L ) groups . In the combined groups , the baseline plasma 25(OH)D concentration was inversely related to the change in total 25(OH)D ( r = −0.52 ; P < 0.001 ) . Overall , 86 % of infants met the 50 nmol/L cutoff at follow-up ; however , fewer infants in the D2 group ( 75 % ) met this level compared with the D3 group ( 96 % ) ( P < 0.05 ) . Similar results were obtained by immunoassay . In conclusion , the increase in the 25(OH)D concentration among the D2 and D3 groups did not differ , suggesting daily intake of either isoform is acceptable for infants < 4 mo
They do not provide any additional evidence that larger , more generous amounts of daily vitamin D beyond the customary recommended 400 IU daily dose , affect any significant outcome .
Larger amounts may lead to serum 25 hydroxy vitamin D concentrations that have been reported to be potentially associated with adverse effects .
Summary There are still many unanswered questions left , in particular whether or not more ‘ generous ’ amounts of vitamin D in infancy may improve long-term health outcomes such as prevention of osteoporosis , allergies , or cancer
Purpose of review New evidence for recommendations for vitamin D supplementation in healthy infants based upon recent literature .