Here's a comment on Vit D by the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine: "TO: the Editor, NYT RE: "Vitamin D Deficiency May Lurk in Babies." Science Section, August 26th 2008 DATE: August 29, 2008 It is clear that vitamin D content of human milk is variable and directly related to maternal vitamin D status. Human milk is not deficient in vitamin D per se; rather, it is deficient in vitamin D when mother is deficient. Vitamin D transfer into mothers' milk is predictable: a deficient woman has little to transfer to her infant via her milk; if her status improves, transfer of vitamin D in her milk to the baby will also. Maternal vitamin D deficiency and resultant nutritional rickets in her nursing infant is preventable: supplementation of the infant with vitamin D will ameliorate deficiency in that age group, but does not address maternal needs.. Adverse effects associated with vitamin D deficiency affect bone development and innate immunity such that no woman and her baby should be deficient. We must prescribe a safe intervention that will achieve sufficiency in both mother and infant and not blame human milk as the culprit, but rather, see the problem as the larger public health issue that it is. Caroline Chantry, MD Karla Shepard Rubinger President Executive Director Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine 140 Huguenot Street 3rd floor New Rochelle, NY 10801-5215 Carol L. Wagner, MD Medical University of South Carolina" -Marie Farver *********************************************** Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html To reach list owners: [log in to unmask] Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask] COMMANDS: 1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail 2. To start it again: set lactnet mail 3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet 4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome