The guidance, issued by Scotland’s chief medical officer Dr Catherine Calderwood, recommends all babies from birth up to one year of age, as well as pregnant women, take a precautionary daily supplement of vitamin D to protect their bones.
The move brings Scotland in line with the rest of the UK and follows new advice from the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition.
The new guidance recommends that babies start vitamins within the first two weeks of birth. This is earlier than six months previously recommended. Also, as a precaution, breastfed babies from birth up to the age of one should be given a supplement of 8.5 to 10μg/d vitamin D per day. Babies who are formula fed do not require vitamin D as it is already added to the milk.
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