Recently I came across an article in the Canadian Journal of Public
Health, Vol 87, No. 4, 1996 pages 227-230 regarding Vitamin D
supplementation. The article was written by A. Binet BScN & Dr. Kooh both
from the Department of Pediatrics, Hospital for Sick Children and the
University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
From the Abstract: They examined 17 cases of vit D deficiency between
1988 and 1993. The diagnosis was made between 7 months to 33 months of
age. All the children were Asian or African origin with dark skin and 12
of the children were born to parents that were recent immigrants to Canada
(within the last 10 years).
ALL OF THE CHILDREN HAD BEEN EXCLUSIVELY BREASTFEED WITH LITTLE TO NONE
SUNLIGHT EXPOSURE.
They state that the children were breastfed with no vitamin
supplementation for 6 to 18 months (mean 12.5 months) They also state that
11 children refused to drink "Non human milk" or milk products, others
drank milk in very small amounts (no amount given). Second variable
introduced is that the parents reported that the children received little
exposure to sunlight.
Although there are several variables (exclusively breastfed with no vit D
supplementation, refusing milk after weaning, little exposure to sunlight,
dark skin, new immigarant patterns.
The recommendation was" Vit D Supplementation for all exclusively
breastfed infants",with an added note that this might not be necessary for
exc breastfed infants who receive adequate sunlight exposure.
  I am wondering what other countries recommendations are?
Maryann Kusmirski BScN, IBCLC
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