Recent BMJ topics: At least the last article did mention sunshine!! and that Vit. D production begins in our bodies when sunlight hits our skin. Admittedly, supplements can be useful, but sunshine is nature's way (and is more effective). There may be other processes that we get from sunshine that are not yet well known. Babies were not meant to be inside all the time. There is a happy medium between no outside exposure and too much. Certain ethnic groups do have more melanin in their skin which is the pigment that gives our skin color. It does then take a little longer for the sunshine to activate the process of Vit. D formation when the climate is less sunny than their genes were prepared for. Yes, there are persons who cover up for religious reasons when out in public. Exposure of just hands and face can produce enough Vitamin D. The problem comes when no one tells these parents the importance of sunshine for Vit. D formation. Once they know, sunshine is more acceptable to some than taking a pill. If, after being given information on the importance of sunshine, a client makes a choice to not be in sunshine, then supplementation may be needed (mother's dietary intake of Vit. D fortified foods can also be checked). Parents need information on Vit. D, just like they do on formula. Breastfeeding mothers can learn to take their baby outside more often (leave off the sunblock and don't over expose), and if not possible because too cold or hot for their belief system, to then get themselves out in the sunlight a bit more so that their milk will have a higher Vit. D concentration (can also increase Vit. D sources in diet, but sunshine is best -- admittedly not much sunshine around this time of year, but the body stores it.) If smokers can take breaks to light up, even working-outside-the-home breastfeeding moms can take breaks to get a little sunshine -- Actually they'd be nursing or pumping at break so I guess we would see moms out at picnic tables breastfeeding or hand expressing or pumping their milk! :-) We had a 1 year old breastfed baby that we thought had rickets, and asked the doctor if Vit. D supplements were necessary == this lead us to read up a little and now we do a class that our WIC moms and staff quite enjoy on "the Sunshine Vitamin - Vitamin D" Jill Lund, RD, MS St. Louis, Missouri, USA ---------- From: Marie Davis, Rn, Clc <[log in to unmask]> To: Subject: latest bmj topics Date: Friday, January 01, 1999 12:54 PM Happy New Year to all my Lactnet buddies!! Marie Davis, Rn, IBCLC ============= Breast feeding is best learnt by example http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/318/7175/0/e Asian children in the UK may need vitamin D http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/318/7175/0/f Vitamin D concentrations in Asian children aged 2 years living in England: population survey Margaret Lawson and Margaret Thomas BMJ 1999;318 28 http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/318/7175/28 Qualitative study of decisions about infant feeding among women in east end of London Pat Hoddinott and Roisin Pill BMJ 1999;318 30-34 http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/318/7175/30 Lesson of the week: Florid rickets associated with prolonged breast feeding without vitamin D supplementation M Z Mughal, H Salama, T Greenaway, I Laing, and E B Mawer BMJ 1999;318 39-40 http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/318/7175/39 ----------