Researchers found that among infants who were exclusively breast-fed, only 5-13%, depending on age, were getting enough vitamin D. For infants who were breast-fed but also received formula, 28-35% were getting 200 IU of vitamin D a day, but only 9-14% were getting 400 IU a day. For infants fed exclusively with formula, 81-98% were getting 200 IU a day, but only 20-37% were getting the recommended 400 IUs.

 

For this study, a team of researchers led by Cria Perrine, from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Epidemic Intelligence Service in the Office of Workforce and Career Development, and Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity collected data on infants included in the Infant Feeding Practices Study II, which was conducted from 2005 to 2007.

 

Using these data, researchers estimated how many infants were getting the recommended levels of vitamin D. They estimated these levels for babies from 1 month to 10.5 months.

 

Researchers also found that only 1-13% of infants were being given a vitamin D supplement.