"An excess of vitamin D can have serious consequences on their health and be life-threatening for toddlers. To limit the risks, we recall our recommendations for supplementing infants with vitamin D," the agency said in an article published on its website.
In children, vitamin D is considered essential for bone growth. To ensure this growth, this vitamin is therefore prescribed in France from the first days of life in prevention of rickets, disease of growth and ossification.
But "giving your child too much vitamin D can be as dangerous as not administering enough," warns the agency, which says it has recorded "three new reports of severe hypercalcemia – excess calcium in the blood – occurred in infants in 2022".
These cases result from misuse "of food supplements containing vitamin D", says ANSES.
To limit the risks, the agency recommends in particular to "privilege the taking of drugs to that of food supplements".
The drugs guarantee "clear information in terms of doses, precautions for use, risk of adverse effects and overdose".
She also recommends "to control the doses given to his child and not to multiply the products containing vitamin D to avoid overdoses that could disrupt his kidney function," it is added.
In all cases, vitamin D intake should only be done on prescription from a health professional, insists ANSES.
© 2023 AFP