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Overdose possible with liquid vitamin D supplement products
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted July 5, 2010
Droppers packaged with some liquid vitamin D supplement products are capable of holding a greater amount of the substance than an infant should receive, according to a warning issued in June by the Food and Drug Administration.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a dose of 400 international units of vitamin D supplement per day to infants who are fully or partially breastfed. Babies should continue receiving the supplement until they are weaned from breastfeeding and getting 27 to 32 fluid ounces of infant formula every day, the AAP says.
Excessive vitamin D can cause nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, muscle weakness and kidney damage, according to the FDA (link).
To prevent an overdose, the agency recommends using droppers that will provide no more than 400 IU of vitamin D per dose.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2010/07/05/prbf0705.htm.
