Perhaps the most has been written about this group of substances of all the vitamins. And they really deserve careful attention to know whether they should be consumed by children.

Today, there are about 6 known forms of vitamin D, all of which perform the same functions, differing only in the way they are obtained. When people talk about vitamin D, they most often mean the D3 form (cholecalciferol), because it is the most abundant in the human body.

Vitamin D is nicknamed the “sunshine vitamin” because it is synthesized under the influence of ultraviolet rays. Its main role is to regulate the metabolism of calcium and phosphorus in the body, ensure bone mineralization, and most importantly, strengthen our immunity. Therefore, the intake of sufficient vitamin D is important for the growth and development of bones and teeth, especially for children.

In Ukraine, most sunny days are in summer, while other times of the year there is a lack of ultraviolet light, and thus a source of vitamin D. In addition to the sun, the vitamin can be obtained from food or dietary supplements.

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin and is best absorbed when consumed with fat.

But there is a small problem here. To replenish your daily vitamin D stores, you need to consume, for example, dozens of eggs, several sticks of butter, or 2 kg of fresh liver every day. Since it is impossible to consume such a volume of foods on a daily basis, the body needs an additional source of vitamin D.

According to the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, the majority of Ukrainians, both adults and children, are deficient in vitamin D. Many parents prophylactically give their children nutritional supplements containing the vitamin. However, these drugs can be taken, even as a preventive measure, only after medical examinations and consultation with a doctor. In excess, vitamin D becomes toxic and can have serious health consequences.

In summer, children in the ECOLAND kindergarten spend a lot of time outdoors. It is necessary to take “sunbathing” for 15 minutes between 10 and 13 hours to synthesize a sufficient amount of vitamin D in the skin.

Health to your baby!

Liubov Palamarchuk,

pediatrician of the Ecoland kindergarten