> Dr. Samuel A. Zamora, Gastroenterology Unit, Department of Pediatrics,
> University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland, and his colleagues measured
> bone density in several areas of the bodies of 106 Caucasian girls, aged
> 7-9 years. Of these girls, all who were breast-fed as infants and
> healthy at the time of the study, 91 received vitamin D supplements
> before the age of 1. When compared to the 15 girls who had not
> received vitamin D supplementation, these girls had higher areal bone
> mineral density.

*If* we state that breastfeeding provides all nutrients nature wants human
babies to have to prepare them for a healthy life (which I hope we do) and
*if* we state that babies who are fully breastfed (which I hope they were)
and living in a climat that suits their genetical background (which is the
case with Caucasian girls in Switserland)  *then* one could wonder if it is
really a pro to increase bone mineral density in young girls by adding extra
vitamin D in infancy. Could it not be so that young girls are supposed to
have the bone mineral density they have if unsupplemented. One could argue
that growing bodies need to be flexible and that increasing bone mineral
comes later, when the body has finished growing.
What I really try to say is that *more* does not nessecairily means
*better*.
I will not change my advise to mothers that breastfeeding (according to a
good breastfeeding management) is all a baby needs in the first half year of
life, combined with good, nutricious, local foods in the second half.
Gonneke van Veldhuzien, IBCLC, Maaseik, Belgium

             ***********************************************
The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html