Taking vitamin D supplements from milk is a good idea for pregnant women, nursing mothers, and for their children. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends supplementation for mothers, their breastfed infants, and anyone who is lactating.
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Homogenised cow’s milk is the most favourable option for kids
Choosing the right cow’s milk for your child is an important decision. It should provide the nutrients they need to grow healthy and strong. While a variety of milk types are available, it’s best to stick with whole or reduced-fat varieties.
The calcium in cow’s milk is an important part of keeping bones strong. It’s also been shown to reduce the risk of osteoporosis. In addition, milk is an excellent source of vitamin D. This vitamin is essential for healthy bones and overall immune function. It’s often added to fortified varieties of milk.
The B vitamins in milk are essential to brain development and proper sleep-wake cycles. They are also necessary for the production of neurotransmitters like acetylcholine, which regulates memory and mood.
In addition, the fat in cow’s milk is important for growth and development. However, there are some concerns about how much fat your baby actually needs.
Lactose enhances calcium absorption
Several studies have investigated the potential effects of lactose on calcium absorption. Some of these studies involve animal studies, while others have examined human subjects. Some of these studies have shown positive effects on calcium absorption. Nevertheless, the role of lactose in feeding undernourished children remains controversial.
Some studies have found that infants and young children may benefit from lactose in their diets. Other possible beneficial properties include increased phosphorus and magnesium intake. However, research is still needed to define the balance between the benefits and risks of lactose consumption in different ages, levels of intestinal integrity, and diarrhea.
Studies also show that lactose may have a prebiotic effect on the gut microbiota. Some of these effects appear to be associated with the increase in the ratio of phosphorus to calcium in milk. This ratio can be advantageous for bone growth and formation.
Vitamin D inhibits growth of cancer cells
Various epidemiological studies have shown that vitamin D protects against cancer. This is due to its effects on the proliferation and differentiation of a number of cancer cells. For example, it inhibits the activity of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), the BCL-2 family members and the PCNA (polycomb-nuclear organization) gene.
This inhibition of cancer growth is mediated by a growth inhibitory mechanism. The inhibition of cell proliferation is mediated by the interaction of vitamin D with the endogenous COMT enzyme. In this study, we found that vitamin D decreased the activity of the enzyme in HuLM cells. This effect was abolished when the COMT gene was silenced.
The protein levels of the enzyme were assayed by immunoblotting. The intensity of protein signals was normalized with b-actin. The levels were expressed as percentages of time-matched controls.
Food fortification improves 25(OH)D concentrations
Several studies have shown that food fortification improves 25(OH)D concentrations in cow milk. This is an effective solution to reducing vitamin D deficiency in children. In addition, it is sustainable and affordable.
The benefits of food fortification are clear among pre-schoolers and school-aged children. In fact, most RCTs enrolled children from the age of 5 to 12 years. Compared with other types of food vehicles, the 25(OH)D concentrations of fortified milk were significantly higher. In particular, the effects were more pronounced in children between the ages of 5 and 12 years.
These results show that the fortification of vitD micronutrients is a viable, sustainable, and affordable approach to preventing vitD deficiency in populations. The results indicate that fortification has a greater impact in low-income countries. However, the effect was marginally lower in upper-income countries.
AAP recommends vitamin-D supplementation for breastfeeding mothers, their breastfed infants, or both
Among the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) are that mothers, infants, and children should take 400 international units (IU) of vitamin D daily. Although this recommendation is adequate, studies have shown that only a small number of babies actually receive the recommended amount.
The benefits of taking a vitamin D supplement for breastfeeding mothers and their breastfed infants are numerous. These include a stronger immune system, protection against infections, better dental health, and a lower risk of rickets, a childhood bone disorder.
Maternal supplementation is not common practice, however. In fact, a recent survey showed that less than one in ten mothers met the AAP’s recommendation for vitamin D. Fortunately, there are ways to increase the odds of a mother meeting the recommendation.
Maternal supplementation involves taking high-doses of vitamin D3 to increase the amount of vitamin D in the breast milk. These high doses are known to increase the blood level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD), a measure of the vitamin’s ability to protect against rickets.
