Use of vitamin D and other dietary supplements by Finnish children at the age of 2 and 3 years

Int J Vitam Nutr Res. 2004 Jan;74(1):27-34. doi: 10.1024/0300-9831.74.1.27.

Abstract

The aims of this study were to investigate the frequency of the use of vitamin D and other dietary supplements by Finnish children at the age of 2 and 3 years, to evaluate daily nutrient intake from supplements, and to investigate the relation between supplement use and various sociodemographic factors. The families of 534 newborn infants were invited to a birth cohort study in 1996-1997. Families of 292 children at the child's age of 2 years and families of 263 children at the age of 3 years completed a three-day food record from which the daily use of dietary supplements was calculated. The frequency of dietary supplement use was 50% among the two-year-olds, and 37% among the three-year-old children. The most commonly used supplements among the two-year-olds were vitamin D or vitamin A + D combination (38%) and fluoride (16%) and among the three-year-olds fluoride (19%) and multivitamins (16%), respectively. Intake of nutrients other than vitamin D or fluoride from supplements was rare among two-year-olds, whereas 16% of the three-year-olds received also vitamin A, C, E, and several group B vitamins. Mean daily intake of vitamin D from supplements was 6.7 micrograms at the age of 2 years and 5.3 micrograms at the age of 3 years, respectively. The level of parental education was positively associated with the child's vitamin D supplementation at the age of 2 years. As the compliance with national recommendations of vitamin D supplementation was low, intensified counseling of the parents is needed at the well-baby clinics in Finland.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Age Distribution
  • Chi-Square Distribution
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cohort Studies
  • Diet Records
  • Dietary Supplements / statistics & numerical data*
  • Educational Status
  • Family Characteristics
  • Female
  • Finland
  • Fluorides / administration & dosage
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Parents
  • Vitamin A / administration & dosage
  • Vitamin D / administration & dosage*

Substances

  • Vitamin A
  • Vitamin D
  • Fluorides