Exclusive Breastfeeding and Vitamin D Supplementation: A Positive Synergistic Effect on Prevention of Childhood Infections?

Raffaele Domenici and Francesco Vierucci
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Raffaele Domenici: Pediatric Unit, Saint Luca Hospital, 55100 Lucca, Italy
Francesco Vierucci: Pediatric Unit, Saint Luca Hospital, 55100 Lucca, Italy

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 5, 1-29

Abstract: Human milk is the best food for infants. Breastfeeding has been associated with a reduced risk of viral and bacterial infections. Breast milk contains the perfect amount of nutrients needed to promote infant growth, except for vitamin D. Vitamin D is crucial for calcium metabolism and bone health, and it also has extra-skeletal actions, involving innate and adaptive immunity. As exclusive breastfeeding is a risk factor for vitamin D deficiency, infants should be supplemented with vitamin D at least during the first year. The promotion of breastfeeding and vitamin D supplementation represents an important objective of public health.

Keywords: breastfeeding; human milk; infections; vitamin D; supplementation; COVID-19 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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