Vitamin D and the Breastfeeding Infant: Family Medicine Clinicians’ Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices

• Published in: Journal of human lactation Vol. 34; no. 2; pp. 331 - 336
• Main Authors: Oberhelman, Sara S., Cozine, Elizabeth W., Umaretiya, Puja J., Maxson, Julie A., Thacher, Tom D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01-05-2018
• Subjects: Nursing; infant nutrition; milk; nutrition; breastfeeding; human
• ISSN: 0890-3344; 1552-5732
• DOI: 10.1177/0890334418755338

Background:
The American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Academy of Medicine recommend vitamin D supplementation for breastfeeding infants. However, compliance with this recommendation is poor. Maternal supplementation with vitamin D is a safe and effective alternative to achieving vitamin D sufficiency in breastfeeding infants, and mothers have indicated a preference for self-supplementation over infant supplementation.
Research aim:
We sought to explore Family Medicine clinicians’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding vitamin D supplementation recommendations for breastfeeding dyads.
Methods:
Fifty-six Family Medicine clinicians (including faculty physicians, resident physicians, and nurse practitioners/physician assistants) completed an online, anonymous survey regarding their knowledge and practices concerning vitamin D supplementation for breastfeeding infants.
Results:
The vast majority of clinicians (92.9%) correctly identified the American Academy of Pediatrics’ 2008 recommended dose for vitamin D supplementation in breastfeeding infants and estimated recommending vitamin D supplementation of exclusively breastfeeding infants 70.1% of the time. If all options were equivalent, clinicians would prefer to offer maternal or infant supplementation (50%) or maternal supplementation (37.5%) over infant supplementation (12.5%). Most (69.6%) preferred daily over monthly supplementation regimens.
Conclusion:
Family Medicine clinicians are knowledgeable regarding current recommendations for vitamin D supplementation in breastfeeding infants. They are also open to recommending maternal supplementation or offering parents a choice of maternal or infant vitamin supplementation.