Which nutrient, not found in adequate amounts in breast milk, will need to be supplemented for a breastfed infant?

Which nutrient, not found in adequate amounts in breast milk, will need to be supplemented for a breastfed infant?

• A. Vitamin D
• B. Iron
• C. Vitamin A
• D. Essential fatty acids

Answer: (A)

Vitamin D supplementation is standard for breastfed infants because breast milk provides only small amounts of vitamin D, often not enough to meet an infant’s needs. Without adequate vitamin D, the risk of rickets and deficiency increases, and sun exposure alone isn’t reliably sufficient to meet those needs in many infants. To prevent deficiency, guidelines recommend giving about 400 international units of vitamin D daily starting early in life and continuing through infancy, unless the infant receives enough vitamin D from fortified formula as a primary source. Iron, vitamin A, and essential fatty acids are generally present in breast milk in amounts that are adequate for most term infants, with iron needs rising later as stores decline and complementary foods are introduced. Therefore they aren’t routinely supplemented in all breastfed babies from birth, unlike vitamin D.

Vitamin D supplementation is standard for breastfed infants because breast milk provides only small amounts of vitamin D, often not enough to meet an infant’s needs. Without adequate vitamin D, the risk of rickets and deficiency increases, and sun exposure alone isn’t reliably sufficient to meet those needs in many infants. To prevent deficiency, guidelines recommend giving about 400 international units of vitamin D daily starting early in life and continuing through infancy, unless the infant receives enough vitamin D from fortified formula as a primary source.

Iron, vitamin A, and essential fatty acids are generally present in breast milk in amounts that are adequate for most term infants, with iron needs rising later as stores decline and complementary foods are introduced. Therefore they aren’t routinely supplemented in all breastfed babies from birth, unlike vitamin D.