Proper nutrition during childhood and early childhood is essential to ensure that children reach their full potential in relation to growth, health and development. Poor nutrition increases the risk of disease and is responsible, directly or indirectly, for one third of the 9.5 million deaths that have occurred in 2006 in children under 5 years of age (1,2) (Figure 1) Proper nutrition can also cause childhood obesity, which is a problem that is increasing in many countries.
Early nutritional deficiencies have also been linked to problems that compromise long-term growth and health. Malnutrition during the first two years of life is a cause of chronic malnutrition, which will cause the adult to not reach their potential for growth in size and be several centimeters lower (3). There is evidence that adults who were malnourished during early childhood have a commitment to intellectual performance (4). These adults may also have a reduced capacity for physical work If women were malnourished during childhood, it will affect their reproductive capacity; their children may be born with low weight and may have a higher risk of complicated births. The high number of malnourished children in a population has consequences for the country's development. Therefore, the overall functional consequences of malnutrition are enormous.
The first two years of life provide a window of critical opportunity to ensure the growth and development of children, through optimal nutrition . Taking into account reliable data on the effectiveness of therapies, it
estimates that achieving universal coverage of optimal breastfeeding could avoid, overall, 13% of deaths that occurred in children under 5, while complementary feeding practices could mean an additional benefit of 6% in the reduction of mortality of children under five years.
Vitamin D is a determining factor in the formation and maintenance of bones and teeth, it also influences the absorption and use of calcium and phosphorus.
If your baby does not get enough vitamin D, he may be at risk of rickets, a disease that affects bone growth and development.
How much vitamin D does your baby need?
Breast milk offers the best nutrition for your baby; however, the average vitamin D content of breast milk is low (<25 to 78 IU [International Unit] / L) *, and is probably not enough to meet your baby's needs. So you will have to look for foods rich in this vitamin.
Remember to visit your pediatrician to be the one who can tell you what foods are suitable for your child's diet or if you can include in his diet any formula containing this vitamin without causing any adverse reaction to the expected.
