A study showed a strong link between children who were given multivitamins prior to 6 months of age and an increased risk of asthma, particularly among African American children, who displayed a 30 percent increased risk of asthma.

Survey on Giving Vitamins to Children

• Participants included around 8,000 mothers and their children

• 24 percent of the babies in the study had been born prematurely

• 51 percent of the participants were African Americans and 46 percent were white

• The annual household income of 50 percent of the participants was under $20,000

• Consisted of questions on whether or not mothers gave vitamins to their children and which method of feeding they gave their child such as breast milk or formula

• A follow-up approximately three years after the survey involved asking the mothers if their children developed health conditions such as asthma and allergies

Results of The Study

• It was discovered that 10 percent of the children in the study developed asthma and around five percent developed food allergies

• It was found that 32 percent of the mothers gave vitamins to their babies at least three times a week for the minimum of one month before their babies reached 3 months old

• 41 percent gave their babies vitamins before 6 months of age

• 42 percent supplemented their children with vitamins before 3 years of age

• Some of the parents stated they included vitamin D supplements in their child's diet because they provided the only liquid source of vitamin D

Conclusions of The Study

• African American children with no history of breastfeeding who had parents earning lower incomes with lower education were all factors tied to increased risks for asthma

• Early vitamin supplementation is linked to an increased risk for asthma in African American children

The researchers' goal of the study was to include more minorities to assist them with evaluating how these groups were implementing health care.

Researchers explained that the human body synthesized vitamin D whenever exposed to natural sunlight. Researchers also stated that most children don't reap the full benefits from the natural vitamin D provided by the sun. They said the reason for this was because of all the sunscreen parents lather on their children out of fears their children might get skin cancer.

Experts also claimed that the African American population and others with darker skin pigmentation have the most difficult time absorbing vitamin D from the sun, which could lead to higher cases vitamin D deficiency diseases such as rickets, a rare disease which involves softening of the bones.

Pediatrics July 2004 114(1);27-32

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

As I have been saying for years now, vitamin D is an extremely important nutrient and you must optimize your levels if you want optimal health. Vitamin D has been reaching higher epidemic proportions among the African American population in particular. Unfortunately, many Americans do not get enough vitamin D, largely because of experts' recommendations to avoid all sun exposure. Deficiencies of vitamin D increase a person's risk of bone and muscle problems and perhaps a host of other diseases including: Many forms of cancer High blood pressure Depression Multiple sclerosis Rheumatoid arthritis Diabetes Winter, when sun exposure is at its lowest, is the time of year when you need to be most concerned about the amount of vitamin D you are receiving. Although the majority of Americans are deficient in vitamin D during the winter, it is essential to understand that in order to know how much vitamin D you should be taking, you should get your blood level checked. Unfortunately, very few doctors do the blood test for vitamin D. Even as the word leaks out about vitamin D to the traditional medical community, testing for vitamin D will not skyrocket like cholesterol or other testing because there is no expensive drug to push, thus making the public more aware. If you are uncertain about your vitamin D levels, you can read my past article on vitamin D testing and get up to date on this important topic before it is too late. Unless you are getting significant sun exposure on large amounts of your skin, in fact, I would advise reading the article right now. If you live in an area that doesn't get a lot of sunshine I would highly recommend you take a high-quality cod liver oil as it is the best source of vitamin D (other than the sun, of course). It is the healthiest way to assure you are getting the proper amount of vitamin D and to decrease your risk of cancer and other diseases associated with vitamin D deficiency, but remember to have your levels tested. Previously it was found that if the environment is too clean that could lead to an increased rate of asthma. That is called the hygiene hypothesis. In 2002 I wrote a letter to the medical journal Thorax that provides details on my approach for asthma it focuses on fat optimization as did my letter to the British Medical Journal that reviews my strategy on how to manage atopic dermatitis, which has many similarities to asthma. Related Articles: Vitamin D Deficiency is Major Health Risk African Americans More Likely to Have Prostate and Breast Cancer Return Vitamin D Is Not A Vitamin But A Steroid Hormone Precursor Why Kidney Failure Strikes 1 in 13 African Americans Women Don't Get Enough Vitamin D -- How That Could Ruin Their Health Even Breastfed Babies Deficient in Vitamin D